Myttonsbeach Mine

Location : SJ369005

Minerals : Lead

Working Life : 1850s-1869

History

This mine was also called Hill Sett was worked as part of Central Snailbeach Mine. During 1870, in an attempt to recover the savings of investors who had been fleeced at the main mine site, operations were transferred to here. The shaft was sunk using a horse gin until heavy feeders of water stopped work.

A level was driven to cut the shaft at a depth of 42ft and a portable traction engine was bought to wind and pump in the shaft. This shaft reached a depth of 130ft and a level was driven from it for 50ft. Two large lumps of lead ore were produced at a shareholders’ meeting to show the quality of the ore at the mine. However, it is very doubtful if they actually came from here!

Surface Remains

There is an open level on top of a large tip and this connects to an open shaft further up the hillside which is offset and appears to continue below water level. An 8" pumping main is present and this may have been operated by an engine sited in the building ruins just to the east of the tip.

Further up the valley, there is a grilled open inclined shaft on the hillside to the left. This is choked with decaying refuse at 60ft. There is a possibility of it having led to workings beneath the valley floor. An level on the opposite side of the valley is now choked with debris and flooded but is only believed to have been a trial. The body of a tipper truck lies just down the valley from the first level.