HOME     SITES     ARCHAEOLOGY     HELP     CREDITS    

MAP SMELT MILL LEAD MINE ARCHIVE

PAST PERFECT LOGO
 
Grove Rake Mine
 
ENLARGE IMAGE
 

History of Grove Rake Mine

Workings at Grove Rake probably started during the medieval period and the mine takes its name from these early opencast workings. Mining certainly took place on the Green Cleugh vein in the 17th century. A series of large opencasts called Fraser's Hushes were worked on Green Cleugh Vein in the 28th 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.

Learn more about
 
PREHISTORIC BURIALROMAN PERIOD FARMANGLO-SAXON ROYAL PALACEMEDIEVAL VILLAGEMEDIEVAL CASTLEPOST-MEDIEVAL LEAD WORKINGTWENTIETH CENTURY COAL MINE