Monsal Dale.

The Putty Hill Vein, running about W. 20° S., was formerly worked for galena and calamine, but is now utilised only as a source of white spar. Above Litton Mill a vein with the same direction has been worked open-cast. It shows horizontal slickenside on the walls, and a pipe that has been partially excavated close by can be explored by daylight. It is lined with concentric layers of calcite, the prism-shaped crystals of which are arranged radially in the pipe. At the Moorhigh Mine a good deal of brown as well as some white ore was raised in addition to galena. Ore was got there in the toadstone (Farey, vol. 1, p. 262, Maury Mine).

Taddington.

The Glory Mine is now being worked to a depth of 30 fathoms in a rake running in a general east and west direction and hading to the north. The shaft was started in the first toadstone, but for the greater part is in limestone. The Groove Rake, running W. 25° S., towards Chelmerton, has not been worked of late years.

A mile south of Taddington lie the few hillocks which mark the site of the famous Hubberdale Mine, which was one of the richest mines in Derbyshire about the beginning of this century. A lump of galena weighing ten tons was found here about 1768.*

The ore was obtained in a pipe-vein, running a little west of north, and said to have been 150 yards broad. It was drained by a level driven from Deep Dale along a rake under Nether Wheal and intended to unwater the Wam or Groove Rake.† The Hubberdale pipe was intersected accidentally, and worked, it is said, with a profit of 17,000l. a year for seven years, though the upper part had been previously got by the "old men." The level enters the pipe (which runs nearly horizontally) at 46 fathoms depth. There was much white sand in the pipe, and iron-ore was associated with the galena; the latter was picked out in large lumps and required but little washing. Between Hubberdale and Deep Dale are many small scrins.

Sheldon, Monyash, and Over Haddon.

The following section of the Dirtlow Mine, near Sheldon, was copied from an old plan in the office of Mr. Bagshaw of Foolow.

This is valuable as proving the existence, here at least, of three beds of toadstone.

The rake runs W. 18° N. on the north side of Sheldon; it is not now being worked.

The Magpie and True Blue Mines are situated on a vein running W. 15° N. on the south side of Sheldon. They are both old mines,

* A. H. Stokes, Lead and Lead Mining in Derbyshire, p. 73.

†There is said to be another level running a little west of north towards the Waterloo Inn. This was probably to unwater the older workings. My informa tion concerning this mine is derived from an old miner.

and were rendered notorious by a collision which took place between the men of the two companies in the days when "firing" was used in getting the ore, before blasting had been introduced. In the course of a struggle for the ore which lay in the vein at the separation of the properties, a communication had been made between the two workings, and fires were lighted by each party in the hope of driving the smoke in upon the others. In the end several of the True Blue men were

suffocated.

The Magpie Mine was resuscitated some few years ago, and in 1881 a water-level was driven to it from the Wye, 1 mile above Ashford, a distance of one mile, at a cost of 29,000l. The old workings, however, extended deeper than this level, and the ore proved poor. The shaft is 123 fathoms deep, and is entered by the level at 92 fathoms. The level was driven for some distance in the toadstone which crops out on either side of the river, but no toadstone was seen in the shaft.*

The Hard Rake lies about one mile west of the Magpie Mine. It runs about W. 14° N., and is accompanied by many parallel scrins, most of which contained calamine; a cross-joint running towards the north is said to have contained a rib of calamine 20 inches wide. This ore is now being picked out of the hillocks of the Hard Rake. The Hard Rake shaft was sunk to the water at 50 fathoms depth.†

The Mandale Rake, which is said to have been one of the first worked in Derbyshire, is first seen on the south side of the Hard Rake, but it has not been continuously proved further west than the Monyash and Ashford Road, whence it runs E. 30° S., and curving to E. 22° S., to Over Haddon. The principal work upon it was at the east end, where a shaft was sunk 22 fathoms below the level of the Lathkil, and a water-level driven up the vein, from which the water was lifted into the river. So far as can be seen the vein was a joint and not a fault. The Haddon Grove, Small Penny, Little Mycross, New Rake, and Greensward Rakes are more or less parallel to the Mandale. On the last named a shaft has been sunk to 60 fathoms depth, and a pumping engine is now being put up. The Ashford Black Marble is said to occur here at 52 fathoms depth. It will be seen therefore that the mines described above are in the upper beds of the limestone, though situated in the centre of the limestone area.

Alport and Youlgreave.

The strongest vein (though not the richest) of this district is known as the Long Rake, the Ladies' Vein, or the Black Sough. It has been worked continuously along the road on the north side of Middleton Common, where it runs nearly east. Thence striking about E. 15° N., it is said to make for Coalpit Bridge, but for nearly a mile there is no surface evidence of its presence. At this bridge a strong vein, or fault, is seen running in a straight line for Fillyford Bridge, with Yoredale Shale thrown down on its south side for a large part of the distance, whence it takes the name of the Black Sough. The throw is said to be from 20 to 30 yards down to the south, but the vein hades, in parts at least, to the north, and is therefore a reversed fault.

The Mill Green Shaft, near Coalpit Bridge, was sunk to a depth of 14 fathoms, the pumps being worked by a water-wheel, and was then drowned out. At the intersection of Wheels Rake with the Ladies Vein there is an old shaft down to the water-level. The toadstone is

*For this information I am indebted to Mr. Henry Toft, of Alport.
† Mr. George Goodwin, of Monyash, gave me these facts.

17 fathoms thick, and is thrown down 10 fathoms to the south, though the vein hades decidedly to the north.* On part of the same vein the shale was found to be 20 fathoms thick on the south side and 5 on the north, giving 14 fathoms as the throw of the fault; here again the hade was stated to be to the north.†

The Ladies Vein forms the northern limit of the famous Alport mining field, which has been one of the richest in Derbyshire. Though several of the veins have been worked up to their intersection with the Ladies Vein none have been known to cross it.‡

The veins in this field are separable into two sets, having an average direction of about north-east and north-west respectively, but the mineral contents seem to have been much the same in both. It may be noticed, however, that in the old plans the terms pipe and cross-vein are usually applied to the north-east system, which vein and rake are applied to the north-west.

The district is heavily watered, and, as the shallower deposits of ore were worked out, soughs were driven from time to time to relieve the deeper parts of the veins. The following note on the progress of one of the earlier soughs is taken from an old plan in the Alport Mining Office," March ye 29th, 1718. Forfield of Alport Sough was in the Cathole Vein. The taile was in the river Lathkil where crossed by the Sough Vein." The Cathole Vein crosses the river 400 yards above Alport Bridge, and the Sough Vein (now known as the Wheel's Rake) crosses 700 yards below the bridge, measured in a direct line. Later, a sough was driven from North Rainstor to a bend in the river 540 yards south-west of Fillyford Bridge.

The Hillcar Sough runs from the Derwent 1 miles south of Rowsley, under Stanton Moor to a point about 300 yards north-east of Nine Ladies, thence to the Brown Bank Shaft by the side of the brook 400 yards north of Eagle Tor, from which it turns north-westwards to the Old Engine Shaft 400 yards west of Greenfield. § Up to this point, 2 miles from the entrance, the sough was navigable, and from here branches were driven in various directions. The sough was 40 fathoms below the surface at Guy Shaft, about 330 yards north-east of the Old Engine Shaft (or 33 below the river at Alport), and was about 13 fathoms down in the limestone, below the base of the Yoredale Shale.|| From near Cow Close a branch 14 miles in length, and known as Thornhill's Sough, was driven to the Wheel's Rake. The flow of water from the sough was estimated by Mr. Stokes in January, 1880, to amount to 15,000 gallons a minute.¶

A rock called Rhienstor, overhanging the river Bradford 400 yards above Alport Bridge, has the date 1753 cut upon it, which, I was informed, was done on the completion of the Hillcar Sough. But Bray (Tour in Derbyshire, &c., p. 219) writes that the sough was in progress in 1783, scarce a third of it being done, at a cost of 10,0007., and Pilkington, writing in 1789, states that "20,2667. 12s. 1d., exclusive of interest, have already been expended upon the Hillcar Sough alone" (View of the Present State of Derbyshire, p. 126), after remarking that

* From information by Mr. William Garrett, of Alport.

† By Mr. Henry Toft, of Alport, Secretary to the Alport Mines.

With the possible exception of Bowers Vein, on the line of which, on the north side of Ladies Vein, are a few old shallow workings. The vein seems to have been shifted 10 or 15 yards eastwards on the north side of the Ladies Vein.

§ This course is given on an old lithographed plan of the sough in the Alport

Mines Office.

||From Mr. Henry Toft.

¶ Lead and Lead Mining in Derbyshire, p. 46.

the sough (referred to as a very large sough at Youlegreave) is nearly completed. Mawe (op. cit., p. 52) gives the cost at 50,000l., and Farey remarks that boats were used in it (op. cit., p. 330, 1811). Mr. Stokes (Lead and Lead Mining in Derbyshire, p. 46, 1880) states that it was commenced in 1751 and took 21 years in driving. I was informed that it was begun in 1732 and completed, in 1753, as before stated. It is possible that the date cut on Rhienstor is the date of the commencement of the sough, if it has any reference to it at all.

The north-west veins, taken in order from east to west, are Seller's Vein, Bowers, Milking Spar, Wheel's Rake, Ditch Rake or Caslow or Habnab Vein, Cobbler, Abbot Holes, Sutton, Cathole, Danger, Old Leewall, Guy, Bacon or Bacon Close, Marshall or Pyenest, and Wenley Hill Veins.

Bowers Vein may be seen in old open workings on the north side of the road; it runs E. 43° S. Sellers and Milking Spar Veins have been worked for a few yards only.

The Wheel's Rake runs in a general direction E. 47° S. and is a fault with a down-throw to the north-east of two feet. The Wheel's Rake Shaft on the south bank of the river was sunk through the following strata :-*

This rake is now being worked on the north side of the river. The Engine Shaft in the wood is sunk to the top of the first toadstone at 27 fathoms depth, the Hillcar Sough taking the water down to this level. The toadstone is light-coloured, soft, and amygdaloidal at the top, but becomes harder and darker below. The galena is associated with caulk and brasil (iron pyrites); some brown ore occurs. The Wheel's Rake Engine Shaft, 170 yards south-east of the junction with the Ladies Vein, is sunk to 48 fathoms.†

Towards its southern end the Wheel's Rake divides into the White Rake, Amos Cross Vein, and Hilton Vein, which, however, keep close together.

The Sutton Vein has been worked in the Black Shaft, the Nicker Tor Mine, Taylor's Shaft, and the Broad Meadow Engine Shaft. The last named intersected the toadstone at 21 fathoms below the Hillcar Sough. The Abbot Holes Vein, which falls nearly into the range of the Sutton Vein, crosses close to the junction of the Lathkil and Bradford. The Cathole and Danger Vein, and two east and west pipes, known as Croke Pipe and Hartle Dale Pipe, are seen crossing the river on either side of Rhienstor, The Old Leewall and Guy Veins are parallel veins about 50 yards apart. The workings in the Guy Shaft were carried 20 fathoms below the Hillcar Sough, which was at 40 fathoms depth. The Bacon Vein was worked out to 16 fathoms below the sough, but below this ore was left on account of the strength of the water; there was some blende. The Pyenest Shaft is 50 fathoms deep. This vein intersects the Black Shale Vein, which runs W. 10° N., at the Crashpurse Shaft, close to

* The measurements are from an old section of the shaft in the Alport Mines Office, excepting that of the boring, which was supplied by Mr. Toft. † From Mr. William Garrett, of Alport.

The sough The Mosslow (or

the reservoir. The old Engine Shaft, at which the Hillcar Sough terminates, was on the Great Shale Vein, a barren vein. here is four feet below the top of the limestone. Morston) Shaft has been sunk lately on the Wenley Hill Vein, and a communication is being made with the Hillcar Sough to unwater the lode. At this shaft the limestone was reached through 20 fathoms of shale.

The north-easterly veins have also proved very rich. The Hillcar Sough is said to have been originally intended to unwater the Old Cross Vein, which crosses the Guy and Old Leewall, and runs to Broad Meadow. This vein was drained by the Shining Sough, which emptied itself into the river near Wheel's Rake Shaft. The Clay and Clark's Cross Veins cross the Bacon Vein and Guy Vein. Corton Hill Pipe runs along the south side of the river by Youlgreave. Hardwork Vein and Blythe Pipe cross the Wheel's Rake in the bank of the brook from Eagle Tor. The Sough Vein and Birchover Vein cross the same brook further south. The North Rainstor (? Rhienstor) Vein runs from the north side of Harthill-hall Farm down the valley of the Lathkil. Besides these there are many smaller veins, the shallower parts of which have been worked.

Winster and Elton.

This district, which has been very productive, shows some points of similarity with the last described. The lodes are productive in the same beds, namely in the uppermost limestone (with some exceptions hereafter mentioned); they run generally in a north-westerly direction; and they are cut off to the north by a fault which is known as the Coast Rake, and ranges nearly parallel with the Long Rake or Ladies Vein.

The district (with the exception of the west end of the Coast Rake, from which there is a sough into Gratton Moor Dale) is drained by the Yatestoop Sough. The original sough, known as the Lousey Level, had been driven from the bottom of the valley 500 yards north of Winster to the Will's Foundry Mine, 300 yards north-west of the church, and thence into the Portaway lode, at 2 point nearly south-west of the church, finally terminating in the Whitelow Rake. The Yatestoop Sough was driven from the banks of the Derwent at a point 900 yards above Darley Bridge, under Warren Car, to a shaft 300 yards west-north-west of Sabinhay Farm. Thence it runs to a shaft 200 yards south of Upper Town. At White Holme Farm it enters the Coast Rake, up which it is continued, its length from the river to the first working on the Coast Rake being about 100 yards short of two miles. It was 21 years in driving and cost upwards of 30,000l. (Farey, vol. 1, p. 331); it was probably begun about 1743 (postea, p. 146).

The Coast Rake runs E. 14° N. from Gratton Dale, almost under Elton Church, to White Holme, from which it is sometimes called White Holme Rake. It has been worked principally east of Elton. There is a deep shaft 50 yards east of the church, and near its intersection with the Portaway Vein the Coast Rake is said to have contained blende and the variety of galena known as steel-ore. A shaft on the north side of the rake was pointed out as being the most northerly working in the Portaway Vein. With this exception the Coast Rake cuts off all the Elton and Winster veins. It appears to be a strong fault with a downthrow north.

The general direction of the Elton and Winster veins is about N. 20° W. A great number of scrins, nearly all of which have been worked, run down the hill west and south of Elton. The principal of