Burgam Mine

Location : SO358997

Minerals : Barite, Lead, Zinc

Working Life : 1866-1960s

History

Little is known about the history of this mine but it was only worked on a small scale, mostly by levels. Total output during its life was only 2,025 tons of barite, 40 tons of lead and 4 tons of zinc. There are believed to be deeper workings connected to the Boat Level but these have never been fully explored.

Surface Remains

There are 7 levels by the road. Counting left to right, Levels 1 & 2 are open, Levels 3 & 4 have collapsed, Level 5 is partly blocked, Level 6 has collapsed and Level 7 has a deep pool of water in the entrance but ends after 6 yards. These levels were worked as recently as the 1960s.

Further up the hillside is a large spoil tip with an open shaft. This is currently 45ft to a blockage but there used to be two passages off at the bottom. One led to some very unstable stopes and the other had a section of rail but ended in a large collapse. A label from a tin of tea found here was dated 1910-1916, so presumably this area was worked during the First World War.

Further right, near the fence, is an open shaft leading to a tight incline. This drops into some rather unstable workings with bad air which seem to extend to some depth but have not been fully explored. Over the fence, at the top of the big spoil heap, is a grilled level. This leads to 150 yards of passage to a blind heading. To the left of the level are buildings and, further left, a narrow open shaft which is blocked with rubbish at 15ft. Above the level is a grilled open shaft into the grilled level. Diagonally right are ruined buildings and below these is an open shaft and a collapsed level further down.

Below the road, there are more spoil heaps and a shallow cutting may indicate a collapsed level. A wide depression next to the road was a shaft which was used for many years by locals for dumping - it now appears to be full. This may be the shaft down to Boat Level but the position of this has not yet been confirmed. Further north is a possibly collapsed shaft next to the footpath.