Dec 18, 2008 a marquette tour guide tells us about copper mining in the upper peninsula which dates back 7,000 years at the porcupine mountains and keweenaw peninsula. Anyone interested in a history of the coppermines should read books by eric. Ecton hill is bounded on the west by the river manifold and on the east by a wide shallow valley containing two streams. The mine was worked by the elizabethans in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and various fragmentary records show it also to have been worked in the 18th century. The project was a partnership between lake district national park, land owners coppermines cottages and rydal estate, ruskin museum, yha coniston, grizedale arts, and cumbria amenity trust mining history society. The latter is famous for its rare, deep azure blue crystals of linarite, a sulphate of copper and lead, specimens of which can be seen in the natural history museum. Coniston copper mine information and photos aditnow. Coniston old man to the left, brim fell, swirl how, black sails and on to wetherlam. Copper has been an essential material to man since prehistoric times. It is the journal of cumbria amenity trust mining history society. At coniston levels were worked to a depth of 490 metres. Whether you want to know about the geology of this special place, how the coppermining industry developed, or about the miners and their families who earned. Leckie has written a gripping story set in real history that sweeps us from the relative civilization of edmonton to the shores of the arctic ocean at coppermine during the time of world war one.
Some of the larger mines were roughton gill mine, mexico mine, silver gill mine and red gill mine. A story about copper, the metal that runs the world carter, bill, urrea mfa, luis alberto on. The routes had deteriorated since they where first pushed and installed in the 1970s and 80s by catmhs. Coniston old man the ruskin museum, coniston, cumbria. There are a number of demanding through trips that can be made in the coniston copper mines. Through trips, coniston copper mines mine explorer society. They worked in many places, but their principal mines were in the caldbeck fells, at goldscope a corruption of gods gift and coniston. From the 1850s possibly earlier until 1908, it was held by the owners of coniston copper mines, the barrat family 18501875. Bakewell, peak district mines historical society, 1972 copper mines and mining 92 pages.
The presence of copper in the lake district was known before 1563, when the crown used german expertise and finance to develop mines and smelt the ore. Postmine mineralisation at coniston copper mines 817kb general interest uploaded january th 20 by jeff. In fact, one of the major ages or stages of human history is named after a copper alloy. Jul 07, 20 thurner takes care to discuss those events directly related to the mines and the goals of strikers as well as those events that impacted the community and families, such as the italian hall disaster. Media in category coniston copper mines the following 31 files are in this category, out of 31 total. In 1859 the coniston railway was opened, which was put between broughton and coniston to transport the copper ore. Rare mining and metallurgy books page 1 edwards store. The village of coniston experienced a rapid and large growth spurt when in 19, the mond nickel company moved its smelting operations from victoria mine a small mining community located west of sudbury to coniston. The coppermines valley lies directly behind coniston village cutting a deep gash between the long high ridge of the main coniston fells and the shapely outlying summit of weatherlam. Copper is as fundamental to the story of the lake district as herdwick sheep are. The slate quarries and copper mines inspired pigeon post, a later novel in the same series. Its rich veins of copper ore were perhaps first exploited in the bronze age.
Find the perfect coniston copper mines valley stock photo. Today there are industrial remains of the industry and the coniston coppermines youth hostel is based in the old managers building. Children have learnt about the history of coniston coppermines and also. There are many of these at coniston, reflecting the underground routes of the mineral veins. The copper ore traffic soon began to dwindle and by 1890 had ceased. These were an integral part of the copper and lead mines on ecton hill, which, in turn, were the last of the north staffordshire mines to close. The historical development of coniston and the surrounding high furness area was predominantly driven by two industries, namely slate and copper mining. Coniston grew as both a farming village, and to serve local copper and slate mines. Media in category coniston coppermines youth hostel the following 20 files are in this category, out of 20 total. In 2016 the national lottery gave a large grant to develop the history of the copper mines in coniston. A visit to hospital level viewing some of the interesting formations and traverses above the big drops to deep level. The coppermines valley and the bell at coniston walking. Coniston community celebrates copper conservation project at new. These sorts of depths presented considerable problems to the miners.
History of coniston, in south lakeland and lancashire map. Perfectly positioned alongside coniston water and below the majestic coniston fells, of which coniston old man, 2635ft, is the most famous. Copper mines on ecton hill, wetton 1021175 historic england. Coniston copper mines, coniston 1003055 historic england. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Now coniston coppermines are mostly visited by walkers and mine explorers scroll down for video. Coniston copper mines, history and surface features. The line was extended in 1860 to the copper mine railway station. Information, history photographs current and archive and documents for coniston. Thank you for your continued support in these difficult times. It tells the story of the coniston railway from its inception through its victorian and. As a local of calumet, thurner was able to utilize local resources and interview local people to create his account of local labor history.
Coniston copper mines northern mine research society. Coniston coppermines the ruskin museum, coniston, cumbria. The old man of coniston is the inspiration for the socalled kanchenjunga, the lake district mountain arthur ransomes swallows and amazons climb in the swallows and amazons novel swallowdale. This record has been generated from an old county number ocn scheduling record. It was functional for hundreds of years in coppermines valley above coniston water.
A field guide to the mines in the copper ore field at coniston in the english lake district 01 by holland, eric isbn. In the heart of the english lake district lies the historical copper mining village of coniston. Coniston old man illustrates textbook geology, and is steeped in history from the stone age. This section is based on sixty centuries of copper by b webster smith which was published by the uk copper development association in 1965. Information, photographs and plans for coniston copper mine on the mine. The primary copper ore that was mined at coniston is called chalcopyrite. The confederate attack on fort sumter, south carolina starts the american civil war. It is a picturesque place, amid some of the grandest scenery of the lake country. Just about to head up to the right and skirt the side of the furness fells. The coniston copper mines has surface and subterranean remains of a major 19th century copper mining industry, in beautiful lakeland scenery.
The mineral mined at coniston was chalcopyrite, a copper sulphide cufes 2. To book your place on an upcoming guided walk of coniston copper. Ore mining in the lake district book alistair cameron. Click below to download documents, plans, surveys etc. Coniston copper mines english lake district coniston. Coniston copper mines project with eleanor kingston youtube. Coniston, a small town in churchconiston chapelry, ulverstone parish, lancashire. Celebrating the copper mining heritage of coniston. The history of the coppermines go back over 400 years but extraction of copper will go back much further than this, probably to roman times or even earlier.
Sixty centuries of copper is intended for the reader who is interested in the general history of copper mining, the development of metalworking processes and the uses of copper through the past six thousand years. Fold mining history in coniston coppermines valley at 24092019. History of copper home website makin metal powders uk. This impressively steep valley, as its name suggests, has been of great interest to miners from as far back as elizabethan times and possibly further. The copper mines occupy an extremely wet part of the lake district. A group for those who liveor have lived in coniston, ontario, and want to remember its wonderful. A new interactive hub has been unveiled in coniston today following a.
For many centuries the presence of copper in the lake district mountain rocks above coniston water provided a livelihood for people in the area. Copper was the first metal used by man in any quantity. Despite the need, copper production at many older and profitable mines in the region actually decreases as new, speculative mines open, causing labor shortages. Nov 20, 2010 a visit to hospital level viewing some of the interesting formations and traverses above the big drops to deep level. Timeline of michigan copper mining 1851 to 1900 keweenaw. Coniston coppermine valley walk walking the cumbrian mountains. Coniston copper mines posted on january 31, 20 by francis pryor the film to be shown this coming sunday february 3 rd at 4. This is a field guide to the relics of copper mining in the fells above coniston, at tilberthwaite, greenburn and at seathwaite tarn above. Prior to 19, the mond nickel company had been operating in victoria mine for thirteen years. If you know of any fatalities missing from the above list then please contact us with the details and we will add them to our database. Large quantities of magnetite fe 3 o 4 was encountered at depth which.
The coniston copper mines were a copper mining operation in cumbria, england. Because of its close association with tin in the mines, copper must almost certainly have been found in cornwall at the same date, but how far it was exported, if at all, is uncertain. It grew in popularity as a tourist location during the victorian era, thanks partially to the construction of a branch of the furness railway, which opened to passenger traffic in 1859 and terminated at coniston railway station. In 300 pages of stunning pictures and clear text together with plans and sections this cdrom depicts the history of the coniston copper mines from the earliest times and records the discoveries made there by mine explorers over the last 20 years. The coniston copper project is all about conserving, promoting and enjoying conistons worldfamous coppermining heritage.
Those names marked with, have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Demand for brass buttons, copper canteens and munitions increases. Coppermines valley is a beautiful place whether you are interested in the mining heritage of the area or not. From 1849 to 1857 the mines employed alexander craig gibson as their surgeon.