Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project is focussed on the remains of a lead smelting mill but it connects the high hills of the north pennines (where the lead mines were) with the staiths in Newcastle (where the markets are) and it was a catalyst for the industrial revolution, creating the demand for improved transportation. Before Stephenson invented his steam engines, the lead ore was carried over the moors by pack ponies and many of the bridleways and footpaths in the North Pennines have these origins. So we commissioned a local sculptor to carve three beautiful ponies as milestones to place along these routes:one at Killhope Lead Mining Museum in Weardale, one at Oldmans Bottom (really) a popular picnic place (& just along from the local pony trekking centre) where the 'Black Way' fords the river Allen, and one at the Dukesfield Smelting Mill. The pics above are of the Dukesfield one and the Oldman's Bottom one, as the Killhope one was only installed yesterday and I don't have the pics yet!
Hope that helps!
Yvonne
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