By Robert Ashmead and David Peter

Origin of Mineral Deposits

Much of North Lancashire and South Cumbria, including the Warton, Silverdale, and Arnside area, is overlaid with a thick deposit of carboniferous limestone. In these limestone beds there is a variety of mineral deposits, most of which have been explored and many worked over a long period of time. They include, in so far as this district is concerned, particularly iron and copper, neither of which however is present in any great quantity.

There are two main schools of thought as to the origin of these minerals. On the one hand it is suggested that they were derived from a thick deposit of New Red Sandstone, quite rich in iron, etc., which once covered the limestone, but which has been largely worn away. Some of the mineral matter, leeched out by water, has accumulated in the cracks and cavities in the underlying limestone. Others however believe that magma, or hot water and gases, with mineral matter in suspension or solution, and welling up from great depths, filled the faults and fractures in the limestone. One or other or possibly both these processes have produced the ores which are now found in irregular masses, veins, pipes, or flats, even though in limited quantities, throughout this area.

Minerals to be Found Here

The main mineral found in this district is iron. This takes many forms, the two chief being:-

• Haematite – Ferric Oxide (Fe20j). This varies from red, earthy powder to a dark compact, shiny mineral. It contains 70% metallic iron.
• Limonite. An iron ore with water. It is in fact natural rust. It is soft and earthy and contains 48-60% iron.

Other forms of iron to be found hereabouts are

• Siderite – Ferrous Carbonate (Fe CO^). It is usually brown in colour. Its iron content is low (45/9*
• Pyrites/Marcasite (Fe S2). ‘Fool’s Gold’, 54% sulphur , 46% iron.

The next most common mineral to be found here is copper. It occurs in close association with iron. The chief forms are:

• Malachite (Green, 57% copper) and Azurite (blue, 55% copper). Carbonates of copper usually found together.
• Cuprite – Copper Oxide (CU2O). It is reddish brown. Formed by the weathering of other ores, it is usually found near to the surface.

Other minerals found locally are

• Manganese Oxide. Used to toughen steel.
• Pyrolusite – Manganese de-oxide (Mn O2).

Non-metallic deposits include:

• Calcite (Ca COj). The most common of the carbonate minerals.
• Aragonite (Ca COj). Harder than calcite, eg. mother of pearl lining of sea shells.
• Dolomite. Similar in crystal form to calcite but harder.
• Gypsum. Used for Plaster of Paris, plaster board, etc.
• Quartz (Si O2). One of the most common minerals. It comprises 12% of the earth’s surface and is a constituent of many rocks.

The Chief Mines on Warton Crag

They are located particularly in the Crag Foot area, where minerals were recovered in three main places:

• 1, Lower Mine (South Level) This lies closely behind the cottages adjoining the old chimney at Crag Foot. From this point there was an extensive interconnecting network of workings. The main shaft (Laycock’s Shaft) is blocked. The adit is 400 ft. long and runs northwest.
• 2, Higher Mine (North Level). Sited 1/2 mile E.N.E. of the Lower Mine, in Grisedale Wood, the remains of an extensive series of workings are still to be seen here. Most are now inaccessible. The main shaft was Gillow Shaft. These two areas were first worked in the 18th century for copper. The mining here can be linked with the bell pits and adits, still identifiable on Heald Brow, on the opposite side of the valley. The copper extracted from all these sites was smelted at the works at Jenny Brown’s Point. This lasted for barely ten years, however, and the buildings, except for the chimney which still stands, were demolished in 1802. The search for copper was inspired by the need to produce bronze, a mixture of copper and tin, to make cannon for use during the Napoleonic Wars. By way of interest, the tall chimney at Crag Foot has nothing to do with the mines. It was erected in the middle of the last century to provide the flue for the engine at the pumping station sited there to drain water off Leighton Moss.
• 3. Crag Foot Mine, including Windy Scout Mine Sited some 4 mile S.E. of the Lower Mine, its main building measured 80 ft by 20 ft and was adjacent to the now blocked main shaft. Only the foundations and the winch beds remain. The ore was raised by means of a steam engine which was housed on the opposite side of the shaft to the main building. A short distance to the north was a small concrete reservoir, which still exists. To the south of the main building were the crushing basins. These were also worked by the steam engine.

The main mineral obtained from the Crag Foot Mines was oxide of iron (Haematite). It occurred at depths of from 0-/0 ft. Open cast mining took place at the eastern extremity, near Occupation Lane, and this was the first area to be developed. Deeper workings were opened later. The ore was really of poor quality, and hardly suitable for smelting. It occurred chiefly in pockets. There does not appear to have been any particular method of mining it. The miners spotted a deposit and worked at it, or tested it and left it. Some rich deposits were left, probably deliberately (as for tin in Cornwall). They knew it was there and left it for a ‘rainy day’. When the demand increased and prices rose, or when there were no other discoveries, they returned to it.

The oxide was first broken into small lumps, and then crushed. After this it was sifted, mixed with water, and placed in wooden troughs. Then the water was run off and the resultant ‘mud’ was dried. Finally, it was graded into different ‘meshes’ and packed into kegs. In the early days it was despatched by pack horse or wagon, but after 1857 it was sent by train from Silverdale station. It was sent to Lancashire towns, and to Lancaster in particular where it was used by Williamson’s and Storey’s (both major shareholders in the mining company) for the making of red linoleum. Other good customers were to be found in Liverpool and Manchester. Some of the finances of the mining companies were derived from these two cities. In addition, the treated ore was used in the manufacture of red paint, hence the local name applied to the workings: the ‘Paint Mines’. Known also as ‘Reddle’ or ‘Ruddle’, it was used by farmers for marking their sheep.

Other Minor Workings in the Area

There were quite a number of other smaller mineral excavations on the Crag: Fairy Hole Mine, Potts Wood and Three Brothers Mine, Warton Crag Mine and B.S.C. Mine, none of which appears to have been very productive. Actually the whole of the Warton, Silverdale, Yealand, and Arnside area is scarred by the excavations left by mining prospectors:

• Arnside, White Creek Mine at Blackstone Point
• Silverdale, Red Rake at the Cove, Jack Scout, Heald Brow, and Challan Hall
• Yealand, Cringlebarrow

Over the years vegetation has covered most of the evidence, making it difficult often to identify the sites.

History of the Mining at Crag Foot

The mines in this area seem to have been worked very spasmodically and for limited periods, when the prices were high or when the demand justified it. Such occasions were followed by closures for lengthy periods. Not many people seem to have been employed at any one time. The census of 1851 refers to ‘four men down below and two men and a boy above the ground’.

Eighteenth Century

Iron ore was mined at Yealand in 1757, actually at Yealand Redmayne Common, near Round Top on Cringlebarrow. In this same year an agreement was made by George Gibson (of Leighton Hall), with Anthony Tissington of Alfreton in Derbyshire for a term of 21 years stipulating ‘no obstruction or interference to be made with Leighton Furnace’. The mine referred to was at Crag Foot, but it was worked for only two years.

In 1782 there was renewed activity at Crag Foot. Robert Gibson (the land owner from Leighton Hall) granted a lease to a company of miners to ‘sink in any part of the common’. An encroachment was made on adjoining land belonging to a Mr Townley. This led to a law suit by Townley on Gibson in 1788 which Gibson lost. No doubt some of this activity in the second half of the eighteenth century bore a relation to the needs of Leighton (iron) Furnace, which operated from 1711-1813.

Mining in the Nineteenth Century

Much of the following information relating to mining activity on the Crag in the nineteenth century has been derived from two local newspapers. The Lancaster Guardian and The Lancaster Gazette. Selections from the advertisement and comment columns of these two papers are given below, as they illustrate vividly the rapid changes which took place in the fortunes of the several enterprises involved.

1836-1841

1836 An agreement was made between ’Edward Dawson of Aldcliffe Hall, John Pratchett of Liverpool, and Thomas Cartwright of Llanassa (Flint), Corn Merchant, to mine for copper, iron, ironstone, lead, tin, calomine, fossils, etc., which can be found under all the enclosed lands of the said E. Dawson, in the parish of Warton for 24 years from Sept last…permission to set up any steam engine etc…One tenth share of all minerals to Edward Dawson.’ Barrow Scout Mine was the only one opened on this land with any success.

1837 A lease was made on 14 Feb between R. Gillow of Leighton Hall and four merchants and one gentleman, all Liverpool Trustees of the Warton Crag, Silverdale, and Leighton Mining Company, for 23 years. The mines were reported to be quite rich in copper. Opened at this time were North Level and Gillow’s Shaft of Higher Mine and Laycock’s Shaft of Lower Mine.

Work was suspended in this year on account of water. A steam engine was installed to deal with this, but a severe three, month frost hindered the work.

1838 (13 Jan) The sale of the five shares in the Warton Crag, Silverdale, and Leighton Mining Company, advertised to take place on 15 January at the King’s Arms, Lancaster, is postponed.

1840 The company ceased to work.

Advert (12 Sep): ‘Valuable mining materials to be sold by auction at the mines at Warton Cragg, including the undermentioned machinery and materials. One 14″ cylinder condensing high pressure steam engine, with Boiler. Two horse whims, one capstan, cast iron pipes for three shafts, anvils, bellows, vices etc. Twenty tons of red paint. Apply Captain Nicholas at the mine.’ By way of interest, there were only two miners, both Welshmen.

1860-1881

1860 Interest was again being shown in the mine. 1865 Iron oxide was being extracted. Mr H. Walduck of Manchester was acting as agent. (He was also agent for the Carnforth Haematite Company.)

1869 (3 Nov) ’It is encouraging to know that the efforts of the energetic searchers for iron ore in the neighbourhood of Silverdale and Arnside are meeting with success. The owners of the workings at Silverdale are able to send off several wagon loads per week. At Arnside also a large quantity of iron ore has been found.’

1876 Walduck became sole agent for several small local mining and quarrying companies.

1877 On the death of R. M. Shipman (one of the partners), Walduck became a partner. Thus was formed the Warton and Silverdale Mining Company, with Walduck as managing director. He lived at West Lindeth in Silverdale.

1877 (19 May) The death occurred at Cragg Foot, Warton, of John Patten, iron miner, aged 67 years.

1879 The Warton and Silverdale Mining Company reported £10,000 Capital in 1,000 shares of £10 each, with the power to increase to £20,000. Up to this time, some 2,305 tons of ore had been sold in Silverdale for £18,533 (£8 per ton).

1880 The company ran into debt. Rent was owed to Dawson, and Gillow was suing for damage to property and rent arrears of £147-5s.

1830 (3 Mar) Advert: ‘Wanted by the Warton and Silverdale Mining Company at Silverdale near Carnforth a clerk to take charge of books, keep mens’ time, and to act as Secretary. Apply by letter stating qualifications and salary to Messrs Boddington and Ball, 1 Princes St, Manchester.’

1881-1890

1881 (19 Feb) ‘Crag Foot Mines. Important sale of mining plant and machinery under a distress for Imperial taxes…Plant and machinery, bar and hoop iron, weighing machine, tram rails, grindstone, pump, gearing and rods, iron piping, two cwts blasting powder.’ The following week (23 Feb) the sale was cancelled.

1881 (June) A new lease was granted between T.R. Gillow of Leighton and the Warton and Silverdale Mining Company.

(2 Aug) The newspapers reported that the Warton Mining Company with offices at Cragg Foot had been charged with having no lightning conductor on the explosives store, exposure of iron and stone, no exclusion of matches, and not kept free from grit. Mr Walduck, Company Secretary, was fined £2.10.0 on one charge, other charges dismissed.

1883 The recently formed Warton and Silverdale Company did no better than previous ventures, and the Dawson property was sold for £510.

1884 (23 Feb) The papers reported a claim made against Mr H. Walduck under Employers’ Liability Act for the balance of wages due to Mr William Armer, miner, at the Paint Mines on Warton Crag. Case adjourned. There was little activity at the mine due to competition from other cheaper paint manufacturers.

1890 (25 Mar) The company was dissolved.

1891-1894

1891 The mine was reopened by the Warton Mining and Colour Company (Regd. Office, 86 King St, Manchester). The venture was no more successful than the one it replaced. Mr Walduck was still agent, but on his death in June 1892 the company closed down and was disposed of in 1894.

1894 (27 Jan) ‘The Warton Mining and Colour Company in liquidation. Auction of the whole of the leasehold interest in Warton Mines producing Warton native Oxide of iron.’

1894 (3 Feb) ‘Warton mines for auction in Manchester last Friday. Only one bid… withdrawn. believe negotiating sale privately.’ Thus ended a period of spasmodic mining activity on Warton Crag spread over 150 years.

Notes

Peter Ashmead, Robert Ashmead’s son, with members of the Lancaster Cave and Mining group, spent much effort and many hours exploring the mines and collecting the data concerning their history. His work, the full report is the primary source for this article.

Published in Mourholme Magazines Issue 5 Autumn 1983 and Issue 6 Winter 1983