Tour of Carrs Mine, A: Exploring the Nenthead Visitor Mine

Synopsis: Carrs mine is part of the Nenthead lead-zinc mining complex high on Alston Moor in the Cumbrian North Pennines. Carrs was first recorded in 1679 and by 1750 it was one of the largest mines in the area. From about 1800 it was taken over by the London Lead Company which brought in modern techniques such as horse haulage on tram rails. In the early 20th Century it was mined for zinc using compressed-air rock drills.

This video is a record of a tour of the show mine guided by Peter Wilkinson, showing the dry-stone arching of the horse levels, the vein mineralisation, some of the mining methods, tunnels and workings large and small, timbered rises, iron rails and the shapes and colours of mineral deposit. After the tour of the the show mine, areas of Carrs that people don’t normally get to see are explored, including a calcite-lined ‘grotto’ and unprotected sumps with water pouring down to even deeper mines. Also briefly shows some of the other mines of Nenthead, particularly Smallcleugh with its stone arching, ore chutes and air doors.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2004
Year of production: 2004
Notes: The DVD is DVD-R format.
Subjects: Archaeology; Geology
Keywords: industrial archaeology; zinc ores; mines

Name: I A Recordings
Email: info@iarecordings.org
Web: http://www.iarecordings.org External site opens in new window
Phone: 01907 224 509
Address: PO Box 476
Telford
Shropshire
TF7 4RB
Notes: I.A. Recordings specialises in industrial archaeology and is dedicated to recording past and present industry on film and High Definition video, recording working industry as well as the remains of past industries. The archive contains complete productions and unedited footage, much of it available for sale on video or DVD.

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British Universities Film & Video Council