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Dear list I’ve just been reading back through some of the past discussions on Silver production / Yorkshire Mine etc. I’m wondering how or if the mines on the north side of Wensleydale might fit in. Plus I read that soft lead was best suited for de-silvering. Would the quality of the lead suit the separation of Silver in medieval times? Some reports around 1800 say that ore from Beldon and Virgin mines (near Carperby in Wensleydale, not the other Beldon)produced remarkably soft lead. One for Beldon is as follows;- ‘A partnership at Beldon are getting a considerable quantity of small grey and blue ore, I saw one of the smelters a few days ago who says they have smelted about 50 pieces and that it runs better & makes more lead than was expected from the appearance’ I wonder if Bobscar Vein might have also produced such soft lead near the surface. Some reports suggest that some of the ore in Wensleydale was relatively rich in Silver. The Mining Journal says that at one time Keld Heads lead produced 13 oz per ton and W. Horn 1906 said that lead from Aysgarth mine was also had a high Silver content. Thanks Ian Spensley