LEAD. 
541 
The oldest mine in this county is situated near 
Castleton, towards the bottom of Man Tor , or the 
shivering mountain. This has probably been worked 
from the time of the Saxons, and derives its name 
from their god Odin. It furnishes employment for 
about 140 persons of all ages, and consists of two 
levels, running horizontally into the mountain : 
from the upper level the ore is brought from the 
mine, while the lower one serves as a water-level 
to drain the works. The vein of metal varies in 
thickness, and has been traced in some places a 
hundred and eighty feet below the horizontal sur- 
face ; in others, as much above it. The ore differs 
in quality ; the best is said to yield about three 
ounces of silver to a ton of lead. 
In the neighbourhood of this mine there is an- 
other, which exhibits to the traveller a striking in- 
stance of the uncertainty that sometimes attends 
the mining business. It has been named Speed- 
well level, or Navigation mine, and was excavated 
in search of lead ore by a company of adventurers 
from Staffordshire, who, after expending fourteen 
thousand pounds and eleven years ceaseless labour 
in pursuit of that which they never found, aban- 
doned the undertaking. 
This very singular mine has been thus described : 
The descent is beneath an arched vault by a flight 
of lOd steps, which lead to the sough, or level, 
where a boat is ready for the reception of the 
visitor, who is impelled along the water by the 
motion communicated to the boat by the guide. 
