3i8 



LEAD MINING iN YORKSHIRE/ 



JAMES BACKHOLiSK. 



The g^eneral subject of lead mininj^ in tlie North of Kni;huid has 

 been somewhat exhaustively dealt with, both niineralogically 

 and ideologically, by various writers, but hitherto the historical 

 side of the question for any given county has not been syste- 

 matically treated. 



In 1863 the late Mr. Thomas Sopwith, F. R. S., read an 

 admirable paper before the British Association on the local 

 manufacture of lead, copper, zinc, antimony, etc. Tracing, as 

 he did, the general history of the mining of those metals in the 

 various districts, especially of the North of Eng-land, it was 

 obviously impossible to particularise on any one metal, but as a 

 general epitome the article was absolutely reliable. 



In 1848 a paper was read before the Yorkshire Philosophical 

 Society, and published in their Transactions, entitled ' Thoughts 

 on Ancient Metallurgy and Mining in Brigantia and other parts 

 of Britain,' which gives an excellent summary of our knowledge 

 of early minings in the country, but does not attempt to define any 

 special area or set of mines. More recently Mr. Stephen Eddy 

 has written upon the ' Lead Mining Districts of Yorkshire,' 

 mostly from a geological standpoint, but where statistics are 

 given they are of much value. 



For many years Yorkshire held a most important place as a 

 lead-producing district, and it is probable that during the palmy 

 days of the industry at least 3000 persons were employed, 

 directly or indirectly, in lead mining in the county. To-day 

 there are probably not more than 25 all told ! 



It is clearly proved that lead has been mined for many 

 centuries in Yorkshire, not only in Roman, but in l^rigantean 

 times. Pigs of lead can be shown, found in Yorkshire, bearing 

 the Roman impress. In the ' baile,' or 'bole-hills,' and 

 in one or two drifts and shafts, we probably have evidence of 

 Brigantean working ; some of it possibly dating back earlier 

 than the Roman invasion. 



In many districts tradition points to Roman mining, but 

 evidence is not forthcoming" to show whether these conquerors 



* ICpitoiiu- of ;i paper read lo Section 1' of tlie .Meeting' of tlic Hi-itish 

 Association, 'N'oi'k. 



Naturalist, 



