A Pictorial Tour of the Coniston Copper Mines

David Bridge’s tour of this fascinating mine has been put together on a 
CD-ROM using 300 pages of photographs (mostly colour), plus 
maps, plans and sections.  The tour is in html format and can be 
viewed on a web-browser.  As someone who didn’t (having viewed it 
in a rush the first time), it is worth reminding anyone who buys it to 
follow the instructions on the inside of the front cover.  This ensures 
that you get the best view and do not have to waste time scrolling 
pages to see missing bits of text.

The tour is split into four parts - The early 17th century; The 18th and 
19th centuries; Exploring the mine; and The Minerals.  Annotated, 
panoramic shots have been used to good effect as they give one a 
good idea of the layout of the mine, at surface, and the grandeur of its 
setting.  Because of the steep hillsides, these show things like the 
complex of leats, which served the waterwheels and dressing floors, 
much better than a map would.  

The quality of most photographs is good and some are very good.  
The text on some maps is rather on the small side, but it can still be 
read.  Users should keep their eyes open for a link button, which 
usually leads to a plan or section, appearing from time to time in the 
bottom right corner of the screen.  There are also buttons which allow 
the user to return to the main menu or the last slide.

The CD has been laid out in a linear fashion, rather like a book, and 
little use has been made of hyper-text links to allow jumps from one 
topic to another.  Without falling too far into the critics’ trap of 
criticising the book that they would have written, I found the 17th 
century section most useful because the captions had some historical 
information.  The section on the 18th and 19th centuries had 
frustratingly (for me) rather less.  A time-line, giving details of the 
companies and people involved and any major events, plus a graph of 
the mine’s output would have helped greatly.  Some cross sections of 
the workings would also have made it clear that the hade on at least 
one vein reverses as it goes deeper - a complexity that many users will 
not appreciate.  As the CD is presumably aimed at a much wider 
market than mining enthusiasts, it should also have had a glossary. 

It might be useful to consider briefly what advantages the electronic 
approach to publishing has.  Much nonsense has been spouted about 
publishing on the web, but the signs are that it is not taking off.  The 
CD certainly has the advantage when it comes to publishing large 
numbers of photographs economically.  It would be a shame, 
however, if that became its sole strength.  There is, for example, room 
for a more selective approach to the choice of photographs and the 
use of more informative captions.  Likewise, the animation of some 
features might illustrate points better.  But I digress.

Returning to Coniston Copper Mine - I enjoyed the tour and I am 
looking forward to the next one.  I am sure that you will too.  The 
CD, which was published by Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History 
Society, is good value at £13.00 (including p&p) from Sheila Barker 
(Secretary of CATMHS), The Rise, ALSTON, Cumbria, CA9 3DB. 
 Go ahead and treat yourself.

Mike Gill


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Mike Gill

President and Recorder of the NORTHERN MINE RESEARCH SOCIETY

Britain's foremost mining history society at:-
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~RBurt/MinHistNet/NMRS.html

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