Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Sikehead Lead Mine
Hob Uid: 1196111
Location : County Durham Hunstanworth
Grid Ref : NY9546046420
Summary : The remains of Sikehead lead mine and dressing floor which formed part of the Derwent lead mines complex (NY 94 NE 88). It includes two shafts sunk in the 1840s, Ruth Shaft for pumping, and Ellen Shaft for winding. Ruth Shaft was originally operated by flatrods from the poorly preserved Deborah Level 0.6 kilometres to the WNW. When a branch railway line was extended across the moors to Sikehead, the availability of coal allowed the construction and operation of an economically viable steam engine and led to the removal of the flatrod system. The low remains of the Cornish beam engine house and boiler house are situated to the south of Ruth Shaft. The chimney survives to 14 metres in height with a 3.5 metre diameter base and a firerick built arched opening. Ellen Shaft, situated just to the north, is capped with concrete and an iron plate. A small hand operated cast iron capstan is situated on top of the plate. To the east are the remains of the flatrod balance bob pit and wash kiln and a 2 metre diameter capstan setting. Just to the WNW of the shafts are the remains of Robinson's Level. Ore was hauled from the level along a linear spoil tip to the west to be hand dressed. The remains of a particularly rare ore chute in the Cornish tradition is built into the spoil tip. The remains of a wheel pit and drum wheel setting for a 6.1 metre diameter waterwheel are situated to the north west and were employed for winding Ellen Shaft. The dressing floor is represented by graded areas of dressing waste. Sikehead mine is a good example of a 19th century nucleated mine with many rare features of Cornish influence not encountered on other sites in the North Pennines. Scheduled.
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Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : 06-Aug-97
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Sunk in the 1840s
Monument End Date : 1849
Monument Start Date : 1840
Monument Type : Lead Mine, Mine Shaft, Mine Pumping Shaft, Wheel Pit
Evidence : Subterranean Feature, Structure

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : From 1840s (until late C19)
Monument End Date : 1899
Monument Start Date : 1840
Monument Type : Beam Engine House, Boiler House, Chimney, Wash Kiln, Capstan, Dressing Floor, Spoil Heap
Evidence : Demolished Building, Structure, Earthwork

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 28910
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 94 NE 92
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

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Historic England Research Records

Sikehead Lead Mine