There was a waterwheel used for winding at Sikehead Lead Mine in the Derwent Valley lead mining area in Co. Durham at NY 955464. At such an exposed elevation and after well over a century of dereliction the remains are quite knocked about but a wheel pit is identifiable on the side of a valley below, and some distance from, the shaft top but obviously located where a good supply of water could be obtained. Off to one side of the pit and about a couple of feet from its centre point is a very much smaller rectangular pit; a line of sight through the centre of this small pit and parallel to the main pit runs directly to the shaft (although Sikehead Mine in fact had two shafts very close together). I would expect that only one rope wound on the drum and raised a single kibble; a clutch arrangement similar to that remaining at Cwm Ciprwth in Snowdonia would allow the weight of the empty kibble to return itself down the shaft. Intermediate wooden stands could have been erected between winding drum and shaft to prevent the rope sagging too much.
The Sikehead shaft top winding arrangements were somewhat complicated because on one of the shafts was located a beam-pumping engine with associated bob-pit, boiler-house, coal-store etc., and there is still to be seen a well-defined circular capstan platform with central drum pit.
It's worth mentioning that Sikehead has extensive and interesting remains distinctly not in the local tradition, leading Ian Forbes and I to conclude some years ago that they might be some evidence of the involvement of John Taylor & Co. in this area.
Regards, Simon.
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