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Snailbeach
Lead Mine Heritage Open Weekend 17-18th September 2011 |
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On the weekend 17-18th
September 2001 We had a very successful open weekend with
over 600 visitors over the two days We intend to have further open events in
2012 Details will follow when dates are finalized Over a weekend in
September every year, there is a Heritage Weekend all over Europe where sites
of historical interest which are not normally open to the public are made so.
For details of the national scheme and what is happening elsewhere visit the National
Heritage Days Website 2011 Event ( for
information) |
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Location The mine is located in the village of Snailbeach
near Minsterley, Shropshire. From the North - head for the
A5 Shrewsbury bypass from either east or west and turn down the A488 south
signposted for Bishops Castle. Follow the A488 through Hanwood and
Pontesbury. At Minsterley turn left at the roundabout along the A488 and
after 2 miles look for a bus shelter on the right. Turn left just after this
along a minor road signposted to Snailbeach. Follow this up the hill and,
where the road flattens and turns right, look for the Village Hall on the
right hand side. From the South - head for
Bishops Castle and take the A488 north signposted for Shrewsbury. Follow the
A488 until you go down a steep wooded hill. A mile after this look for a bus
shelter on the left. Turn right just before this along a minor road
signposted to Snailbeach. Follow this up the hill and, where the road
flattens and turns right, look for the Village Hall on the right hand side. |
click
on map to get larger version
There is ample free parking so please ensure that
you park behind the Village Hall, either on the car park or the grass field
below. Do NOT drive up the small road to Lordshill or park on the roads. Car
Park Location Grid Reference - NGR SJ375822 Satnav Coordinates - N -
52.61384º W - 2.92736º Nearest
Postcode (within 200 metres) - SY5 0NS Everyone should go to the Village Hall first on
arrival to book in and find out what is happening. . |
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Opening Times Activities will take place from 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Please note, however, that you may not be able to join an underground trip if
you turn up after 3.30pm. If you turn up in the morning then you can be sure
of participating in everything. When you have parked, book
in at the village hall first where there are a number of stalls. |
Costs In keeping with the spirit of Heritage Day, there is
no charge for access to the surface or buildings of the mine. However, visitors wishing to go underground will be
asked to pay a small charge towards our Preservation Fund so we can continue
to carry out preservation work and buy more mining artifacts and
machinery. |
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Surface Buildings Snailbeach Mine has the best set of surface lead
mine buildings in the country and you can explore these throughout the day. It takes about 1 hour to go round on the surface and
you should note that only part is accessible to disabled persons due to
either rough ground or steep climbs. In addition, part of the route climbs a
steep hill so you must be reasonably fit.
Disabled persons will be allowed to park near the buildings – ask one
of the helpers. The following are the main buildings :- a) Locomotive Shed This used to house steam locomotives which operated
the light railway to Minsterley, taking away lead ore and bringing back coal
for the boilers. It now contains a number of artifacts found on site and
there are future plans to install displays of mining techniques. b) Blacksmiths Shop This used to produce all the metalwork for the mine
and sharpened the miners' tools. It has been recently refurbished and the
forge will be operating during the day. The resident blacksmith will show how
it worked and will be making items out of iron. You will also be able to see
lead being melted and poured into moulds to make small ingots. c) Visitor Centre This used to be the Miners Dry (where they dried
their working clothes). You will be able to see displays and watch a video
about the mine. Adjacent to this is the reconstructed wooden headgear and winding
wheel on George's Shaft. There will be volunteers in each of the buildings to
show you around and answer questions. There is also a self-guided surface
tour leaflet. |
Underground Mine Tour If you wish to participate, you will be asked to pay
a small charge towards our Preservation Fund which finances the cost of
looking after the site and preserving mining machinery. The charge will be £TBA – Adult £TBA – Child £TBA – Family (up to 3 children) Note that access is by TICKET ONLY. You can buy
tickets at the Reception Desk in the Village Hall. Visitors will be taken into Perkins Level, which was
a 20th century access tunnel driven to meet several chambers where barite was
mined. It also connected with workings deep in the mine. There is the chance
to see a big barite vein as well as traces of galena (lead ore) in the rock. There is usually ankle deep water at the entrance so
wellies are advisable or bring spare shoes. Helmets will be provided but this
mine is not lit so it is essential that you have your own light. A few headlights and pairs of wellies may
be available on the day. Note that the shorter Day Level will not be open
during the weekend unless demand for an underground trip is high. There may be queues outside Perkins Level
waiting for tours. If this happens we
may advise you to wait for a while at the main site. REMEMBER We provide - helmet You bring - wellies, torch, old
clothes |
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Disabled Access There are parts of the site that would be very
difficult for a disabled person to access due to steep slopes and uneven
ground. However, the buildings are all
accessible and there is limited parking for disabled persons’ cars at the
mine – ask a helper. We regret that we
are unable to arrange underground tours for disabled persons during this
weekend but ask about what is possible on other dates. Refreshments There will be light refreshments for sale in the
Village Hall, next to the car park. If
you wish for a cooked meal then the Stiperstones Inn nearby will cater for
your needs (children welcome). |
Tankerville Mine This is another lead
mine, a few miles to the south, which is owned by the Trust. It
has an almost complete engine house and chimney, as well as other features, which
have been recently preserved. You are
welcome to visit it during the day and, if you are part of a large group, ask
a helper to see if we can provide a guide. |
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Staying in the area If you
wish to stay over in the area we recommend the |
Further information |
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Last
revised: 20 February 2010