Report - Groverake Fluorspar Mine. County Durham - August 2016

[The Knight Errant]

This one was my favourite of the trip, out in the middle of the North Pennines sunny day great view's and only a farmer insight. Not too far from the roadside, a footpath leading into it quite inviting for anyone out and about slightly sketchy in places but a nice example of mining from the 19th century.

A little history - Grove Rake Mine provided access to several veins that cross in the area - the Red Vein, the Green Cleugh Vein and the Grove Rake Vein. In the course of its long history the workings at Grove Rake have produced lead ore, iron ore and fluorspar.



Workings at Grove Rake probably started during the medieval period and the mine takes its name from these early opencast workings. Mining took place on the Green Cleugh vein in the 17th century. A series of large opencasts called Fraser's Hushes were worked in the 18th century. The Weardale Iron Company opened a large quarry on the vein that was productive from 1865 to 1877.

For most of the 18th and 19th centuries the lead mines at Grove Rake were worked by the Beaumont Company. By the 20th century the mines of Grove Rake were producing fluorspar. After passing through the hands of many different companies the mine finally closed in 1999, by which time it was the last fluorspar mine in England.

Here we go-
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Thanks for looking everyone, my second report hope you like it and comments welcome as always

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[caiman]

Grove Rake was not the last English underground fluorspar mine. Milldam in Derbyshire is still very much in operation, unless it has very recently closed? After closure in 2010 it was reopened in 2013 and was certainly still going in 2015. http://www.britishfluorspar.com/eng/

 

[The Kwan]

Nice photos mate, thanks for sharing them

 

[Lord Oort]

Nice report! but please less topside and more actual mine photos.

 

[WildBoyz]

Well captured

 

[Idle Hands]

Nicely shot mate. I stopped by here one wet new years eve a couple of years back. You got better weather! Looks like the arsonists have had a good time since then - I think that's the locker rooms all burnt out?

 

[The Knight Errant]

Grove Rake was not the last English underground fluorspar mine. Milldam in Derbyshire is still very much in operation, unless it has very recently closed? After closure in 2010 it was reopened in 2013 and was certainly still going in 2015. http://www.britishfluorspar.com/eng/

Thanks for the info caiman and a link too brill

 

[The Knight Errant]

Nice photos mate, thanks for sharing them

Thanks Kwan

 

[The Knight Errant]

Nice report! but please less topside and more actual mine photos.

Unfortunately I didn't have my waders on this trip and didn't want wet feet

 

[The Knight Errant]

Well captured

Cheers wildboys

 

[The Knight Errant]

Nicely shot mate. I stopped by here one wet new years eve a couple of years back. You got better weather! Looks like the arsonists have had a good time since then - I think that's the locker rooms all burnt out?

It looked like it was prob the shower room and locker room, shame stuff gets burnt too often these days and the weather was cracking made for good views