A little bit of back ground.
In the early 1850’s ore had been discovered in Hell Gill to the south of the
mine entrance (Keld Heads Level), in order to work this Ash Bank Level was
driven from the river bank. In 1854 the engine shaft close to the level (main)
mouth was in the process of being sunk in order to work the beds under the
level and drain the water in the Keld Heads Lime. At a depth of 165 feet the
water level was driven and the water pumped from this point, it was still
being pumped from here in 1863 (by water wheel). All the ore however was raised
from sumps from the Main Level rather than the shaft. By the end of 1863
the shaft had been sunk to 264 feet and the ore drift driven from here to reach
313 yards by 1870.
.
By July 1864 Ash Bank Level had been driven as far the road to Redmire from
Wensley when it was found necessary to put in a new air shaft. At the same
time due to a change in the slip of the vein a sump was required to work ore
from the Ash Bank Lime which was now up to 42 feet below the level. The mine to
the north of Keld Heads shaft was becoming exhausted, so in an effort to
retain most of the men and keep production going they now proposed putting a
small steam engine under the new air shaft so that men could be put in productive
ground under Ash Bank Level. Using the Keld Heads Shaft to work the ground
would have taken too long, it was estimated that it would take two years to
drive the level forward to the shaft and a similar time to drive back
underneath into the productive ground.
Continuing from Simons ref in 1888 to the proposed sale of the engine. I
wonder when it actualy went. Lord Bolton kept the mine in repaire until c 1891
but I don't know if this would include the engine.
Ian
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