Magpie Mine by JRL
Magpie Mine
Magpie Mine and the Preserved Remains of Derbyshire Lead Mining Heritage
Nestled on a limestone plateau 700 meters south of Sheldon village, Magpie Mine and its neighboring sites—Dirty Red Soil, Great Red Soil, Maypit, and Horsesteps Mines—offer a glimpse into the rich history of Derbyshire’s lead mining industry. This unique monument, situated at an elevation of approximately 310 meters, encompasses a fascinating array of earthwork, buried, standing, and rock-cut remains, all defined by traditional stone walling.
A Journey Through History
The origins of these mines are shrouded in mystery, but records from 1682 document the official opening of Shuttlebark Vein, a rich ore deposit running east to west through the heart of the monument. The name “Magpie Mine” first appears in 1740, highlighting its profitability and prominence in the district. By 1790, Magpie Mine was the largest producer in the area. However, fluctuating lead prices led to its temporary closure in 1793.
Magpie Mine reopened around 1800, with advancements such as the sinking of the main shaft and the installation of a Newcomen engine. By 1824, it was one of Derbyshire’s most profitable mines. However, disputes over ownership with neighboring Maypit Mine, coupled with flooding and a slump in trade, led to another closure in 1835.
The mid-19th century brought a period of modernization under the management of John Taylor, who introduced efficient techniques and oversaw the construction of many surviving structures. Despite these improvements, drainage issues persisted, leading to the construction of Magpie Sough in 1881, a pumpway that directed water to the River Wye. The costs of this endeavor ultimately caused the mine to suspend operations in 1883.
The Landscape of Lead Mining
The remains of Magpie Mine tell the story of centuries of lead mining, featuring engine and climbing shafts, gin circles (horse-powered winding apparatus), powder houses, engine reservoirs, ruined coes (stone-built shelters), hillocks of waste rock, and rake workings. Key highlights include:
- The Main Shaft: Sunk in 1823 and now marked by the steel headgear installed in the 1950s.
- Cornish Engine House: Constructed in 1869 and still standing in part.
- Magpie Sough: A remarkable underground pumpway extending to the River Wye.
Neighboring Mines
Dirty Red Soil Mine: Enclosed by a circular stone wall, this site includes a collapsed shaft and a gin circle.
Horsesteps Mine: Situated at the eastern edge of the monument, it features two shafts—one enclosed within a coe—and extensive hillocks.
Great Red Soil and Maypit Mines: These sites became infamous for ownership disputes, culminating in violence in 1829. Today, they are marked by hillocks, shafts, a coe, and a replica horse gin.
Surviving Features
Many of the structures at Magpie Mine were built during John Taylor’s tenure in the 1840s, using local limestone. Highlights include:
- A circular chimney and a powder house to the north.
- Engine and boiler houses connected by a square chimney.
- Dressing floors, washing areas, and slime ponds reflecting the ore processing stages.
A 19th-century lime kiln and remnants of the tramway linking Dirty Red Soil Mine to Magpie’s main shaft are also visible.
Preserving a Legacy
Although modern additions like steel headgear and reconstructed gin circles mark the site’s 20th-century history, Magpie Mine stands as a testament to Derbyshire’s lead mining heritage. It offers a window into the lives of miners and the innovations that shaped their industry.
Created: 16 December 2024 Edited: 16 December 2024
Magpie Mine
Magpie Mine LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Magpie Mine
There are some historic monuments around including:
Arbor Low henge, large irregular stone circle, linear bank and bowl barrowLees and Dove Rakes, Booth Lee Pipes and Sterndale SoughLathkill Dale and Mandale mines and soughsPutwell Hill bowl barrowBowl barrow in Foggy Lees PlantationMedieval settlement immediately south east of Smerrill GrangeCalling Low bowl barrowBowl barrow north of Manor HouseMoneystones bowl barrow southPutwell Hill MineArbourseats Veins and Sough, Wardlow Sough, Nay Green Mine and Washing Floors, Hading Vein and Seedlow RakeBee Low bowl barrowBrushfield Hough bowl barrowBole Hill bowl barrowBowl barrow on Haddon FieldsLong Dale bowl barrowAnglo-Scandinavian high cross from Two Dales, Darley, now in the churchyard of All Saints' ChurchBowl barrow west of Manor HouseMedieval settlement on the north western slopes of Cales Dale, 490m north west of Cales FarmFin Cop promontory fort, bowl barrow and eighteenth century lime kiln with associated quarryBowl barrow on Longstone MoorBurton Moor bowl barrowAshford BridgeEnd Low bowl barrowTwo bowl barrows east of Hay DaleGrindlow bowl barrowBowl barrow on Haddon FieldsLarks Low bowl barrowWardlow Hay Cop bowl barrowKenslow Knoll bowl barrowTrue Blue nucleated lead mine, 600m ESE of Magpie MineBorther Low bowl barrowGib Hill oval barrow and bowl barrowBowl barrow on Longstone MoorMagpie, Dirty Red Soil, Maypit, Horsesteps and Great Red Soil lead mines and a limekiln, 590m south east of Johnson Lane FarmHolm BridgeWhite Rake long barrow and bowl barrowLumford Mill, BakewellVincent Knoll bowl barrowRound cairn 460m north of New BarnAnglian high cross in the churchyard of All Saints' ChurchMaury Mine and Sough'Sheepwash' BridgeBrundcliffe hlaewConksbury deserted medieval settlementRolley Low bowl barrowParsley Hay bowl barrowBowl barrow known as Priestcliffe Low, 200m west of Low End FarmBenty Grange hlaewMoneystones bowl barrow northWhite Cliff bowl barrowCackle Mackle and Stadford Hollow lead mines on Longstone MoorLead mines 600m and 980m south west of Oddo House FarmMeadow Place bowl barrowDimin Dale Romano-British settlement and field system, south of Taddington WoodRingham Low bowl barrowSmerrill Moor bowl barrowBowl barrow east of Arbor LowFriden Hollow bowl barrowA group of three lead working coes, a shaft and a dressing floor on Longstone EdgeBowl barrow west of Castlegate LaneStanding cross in the churchyard of St Michael and All AngelsLean Low bowl barrowHigh Field hlaew.
