The Foxdale Mines

The author has been fascinated for many years by photographs of the Foxdale Mines. This fascination fuelled my desire to find out more about the mines and how they were worked. The main history of the mines spans a little more than a century, from early production of lead ore in the late 18th century to their eventual closure in July 1911. The early history of the mines has already been documented by other authors, but I wanted to understand what I could see in the more recent photographs, so this history is mostly concerned with the later history, from 1866 to 1911. This comprehensive treasure trove of photographs helps depict the various mining locations, as well as giving an insight into the characters who worked them and the trials they faced in their endeavours. In addition to this, an overview of the background geology of the area, together with descriptions of the working methods, gives an insightful picture of one of the richest lead-silver mines in the British Isles.

The Foxdale Mines - Sample Images