It is good to see the subject of mining landscapes coming round again. 
 NAMHO was pushing this issue (along with protection for 
underground sites) with English Heritage in the 1980s.  

In 1993, on behalf of the Northern Mine Research Society, I 
produced a series of maps showing “Lead Mining Landscapes of the 
Yorkshire Dales” for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.  
This was followed, towards the end of 1995, by a report on “Lead 
Mining Affected Landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales” for the National 
Park Authority and English Heritage.

To a limited extent, the problem was recognised in the Monuments 
Protection Programme.  This, at least, deals with the component parts 
of each site and would (hopefully) prevent the scheduling of an engine 
house, but not its surroundings.

I cannot speak for the situation in Wales and Scotland (in this respect 
they are very much other countries), but I have a little experience of 
similar problems in Yorkshire.  On the basis of what a few 
Yorkshiremen have achieved at Cononley and Grassington, Rob 
Vernon’s estimate of “in the order of 30,000 pounds” to repair the 
Pen-y-Clun chimney sounds a tadge excessive.  If pictures of the 
chimney taken 30 years ago really do confirm that the actual lean of 
the chimney has not got worse, then I suggest that the requirement for 
underpinning work is not so high.  It sounds as though the major 
problem is sagging of the courses around the flue inlet caused by 
damage from vandalism.  Has no one thought to put a prop under the 
loose stuff?  Or build a pack wall?  As Rob says, in the short term, 
replacement of lintels should be a cheap and easy operation.  Perhaps 
if people really cared for some of these features they would carry 
some bags of sand and cement to them and do some deep pointing.

Yes, Grassington Moor is lucky because it is in the Yorkshire Dales 
National Park, which has an archaeological conservator who is 
sympathetic towards the remains of extractive industries.  If it had not 
been for members of the Earby Mines Research Group, however, 
who consolidated a number of sites (including the smelt mill chimney 
and sections of the flues) there would have been much less to see.  
Moreover, following the Commons Commission enquiry in the mid 
1980s, the YDNP has responsibility for the soil on the Out Moor.  
Even so, the scheduled areas form a series of closely spaced islands.  
This is because, under the current legislation, it is very hard to sustain 
a case for scheduling large areas of land which have no demonstrable 
historical value.  For some reason, the earlier (17th and 18th century) 
workings in the New Pasture have received less protection.  
Yarnbury, in the Old Pasture, has faired better and also includes some 
listed buildings.

In Swaledale, large chunks of Gunnerside Gill (plus smelt mills at 
Grinton, Old Gang and Surrender) have been scheduled and are being 
consolidated.

There are also large areas of Upper Wharfedale, Airedale and an 
estate in Wensleydale which are owned by the National Trust.  Its 
archaeologist has also been eager to assess the mining remains on 
each to ensure that their protection is part of the management plans.

The Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty includes the 
Greenhow and Ashfoldside mines, as well as areas of quarrying and 
coal mining.  It is only just getting established, but the protection of 
archaeological sites is an important aim.

Sadly, some years ago the North Yorkshire County Council ignored 
my pleas to make a detailed record of the mining landscape at 
Coldstones, near Pateley Bridge, before granting an extension to the 
local quarry.  As a result, we have lost a large chunk of monastic 
(possibly some Roman) through to 20th century mining and quarrying 
landscape.  Here, the county archaeologists took the advice of a 
lecturer in mining engineering, whose students had surveyed some of 
the shafts.  He pronounced there to be nothing of interest which had 
not been recorded!

The latest editor of the Dalesman (a magazine which once reflected 
people’s wide interests in the Dales) also sees money spent on such 
remains as a waste.  So do not expect everyone to be sympathetic.

There are only a few mines outside the two special areas, but one is at 
Cononley.  Here, a very small group of volunteers have prevented the 
smelt mill chimney and the engine house and its chimney from falling 
down.  They did that work with very little money.

A later project to: fence the site; consolidate and cap the Engine and 
Taylor’s Shafts; consolidate two more buildings; clean out and repair 
water courses and the mine reservoir; the repair site roads; and put up 
interpretation boards cost no more than £12,000.  You can even 
deep point the first four foot of a building out of a wheelchair!

Have fun and always stand up-wind from old chimneys.

--------------------------------
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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