John
Thank you, a very interesting list, quite a bit better than I expected.
I did get to St Ninian's cave on my last visit a few weeks back. I can
imagine the cliff top walk to Mary mine being well worth the effort.
Kirkcudbrightshire sounds worth a look and is certainly not too far (from
'digs' near Port William)
I can see I will be buying a few more 1:25,000 OS maps
Andrew
----- Original Message -----
From: "gerda pickin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 7:56 PM
Subject: Re: Interesting things in Dumfries & Galloway
> Andrew - there are only two sites (worth visiting) in Wigtownshire:
>
> 1. Mary Mine (aka Tonderghie mine), Whithorn NX 438350. A small copper
mine
> on a coastal vein. Last worked in 1840s but possibility of prehistoric
> mining. Shafts, opencast and collapsed level. Not much to see but a superb
> location. Can be approached on coastal path from Burrowhead Caravan Park
or
> from St Ninian's Cave.
>
> 2. Knockibae, New Luce (NX 188664). Small lead mine, worked in the 1780s
> and again in the 1860s. Shafts, levels and some peculiar
> openworks/prospection trenches. Can be approached by walking along the old
> mine track from Barnshangan farm.
>
> If you've got time to visit Kirkcudbrightshire there are some good sites
> between Newton Stewart and Creetown. Would recommend Pibble Mine (NX
> 525607) which has the area's only Cornish engine house plus dressing
floors,
> crushing mill and large reservoir. Also worth a visit are Blackcraig (NX
445
> 645), Coldstream Burn (NX 387697) and Silver Rigg (NX 377729). The best
site
> of the lot is the Woodhead lead mine near Carsphairn (NX NX 531936);
quite
> some way outside Wigtownshire but worth the effort - remains of smelter,
> school, miners' housing, dressing floors etc.
>
> Descriptions of most of the mines in Foster-Smith's 'Non-Ferrous Mines of
> South-West Scotland (Northern Cavern and Mines Soc No.2, 1967) and Wilson
> and Flett's 'Lead, Zinc and Copper Ores of Scotland' Special Rept on
Mineral
> Resources of GB, 1921.
>
> Hope this helps,
> John
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