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Tilberthwaite Mines, Tilberthwaite
Tilberthwaite Mine
locality:-   Tilberthwaite Fells
civil parish:-   Coniston (formerly Lancashire)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   copper mine
locality type:-   mine
coordinates:-   NY299008
1Km square:-   NY2900
10Km square:-   NY20
references:-   Adams, John: 1988: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman Books (Lancaster, Lancashire):: ISBN 0 85206 931 6

evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Lan 1 12) 
placename:-  Tilberthwaite Copper Mines
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.

evidence:-   old text:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Tilberthwaite Mine
item:-  copper ore
source data:-   Book, Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite, Keswick, published by W H Moss and Sons, Whitehaven, Cumberland now Cumbria, 1877; published 1877-1913.
image PST3p119, button  goto source
page 119:-  "TILBERTHWAITE MINE."
"This mine is situated about 1½miles north-east of Coniston Mine; it embraces six east and west veins, some of which have yielded a considerable quantity of copper ore. Shallow workings were opened on the backs of some of the veins in very early times, and a quantity of ore removed."
"In 1850, Mr. Barrett, of Coniston, re-opened the mine and commenced a deep adit level for the purpose of intersecting all the veins. This level was driven 500 fathoms, and some good deposits of ore were found. An irregular shaft was sunk to the adit level, a depth of 65 fathoms; two sets of levels were driven off from it, and a quantity of ore stoped out. About L10,000 were spent in developing the mine, but the returns did not exceed half that sum."
"There are, however, some portions of the mine which, if properly opened up, may yet yield good returns. This statement is made on the authority of Mr. B. Johns, of Keswick, who is thoroughly acquainted with the mine."

evidence:-   old map:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Tilberthwaite Mines and Quarries
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District Mining Field, Westmorland, Cumberland, Lancashire, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by John Postlethwaite, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image
PST2NY30.jpg
"Tilberthwaite Mines and Quarries"
mine symbol, quarry symbol 
item:-  JandMN : 162.2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   visit log:- KDMRS 1979-82
placename:-  Tilberthwaite Copper Mine and Slate Quarry
item:-  slatequartzcopper pyrites
source data:-   Notes, log book of Geological Outings, mine plans, etc, Kendal and District Mine Research Society, Kendal area, Cumbria, etc, visits made 1979-82.
Geological Outing of the Kendal and District Mine Research Society 
Log book page 42:-  "DATE - 18/11/79 SUNDAY / MAP REF - 3055/0075 (MAP No.90 1:50000) / LOCATION - NR TILBERTHWAITE / NAME - TILBERTHWAITE COPPER MINE AND QUARRY (SLATE) / TYPE OF SITE - COPPER MINE &SLATE QUARRY / WORKING OR DISUSED - DISUSED / PEOPLE IN PARTY [ ] / NOS. OF PHOTOS - 25 / SPECIMENS FOUND - SLATE, QUARTZ, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF COPPER PYRITES / COMMENTS - WET SHOWERY DAY. COPPER MINE LEVEL END AFTER 50YDS OR SO, IN A ROOF FALL. THE FALL CAN BE PASSED WITH A TIGHT SQUEEZE, AND THE LEVEL CAN BE SEEN BEYOND, BUT WAS NOT ATTEMPTED, DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE PRESENT. WATER IN THE LEVEL IS SHALLOW 6[in] OR LESS. SLATE LEVEL IS IN WATER 12[in]+ BUT IS PASSABLE AND LARGE CAVERNS ARE ENCOUNTERED."
Log book page 54:-  "DATE - 4/5/80 SUNDAY / MAP REF - 3055/0075 / LOCATION - NR. TILBERTHWAITE / NAME - TILBERTHWAITE COPPER MINE / TYPE OF SITE - MINE. / WORKING OR DISUSED - DISUSED / PEOPLE IN PARTY [ ] / NOS. OF PHOTOS - 25 / SPECIMENS FOUND - AS 18/11/79 / COMMENTS - AS 18/11/79 + [ ] GIT PASSED (sic) ROOF FALL, ONLY TO BE STOPPED 10YDS FURTHER ON BY ANOTHER ROOF FALL, WHICH COULD NOT BE PASSED. AS NO FURTHER PROGRESS COULD BE MADE IT WAS DECIDED TO EXPLORE SOME OF THE QUARRIES IN THE AREA."
item:-  private collection : 82
Image © see bottom of page

MN photo:-  
Level at NY29940080.

photograph
BZQ67.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  
photograph
BZQ68.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  
photograph
BZQ69.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  

MN photo:-  
Level at NY29910081.

photograph
BZQ70.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  
photograph
BZQ71.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  
photograph
BZQ72.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  

MN photo:-  
?Shaft at NY29880082.

photograph
BZQ73.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  
photograph
BZQ74.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  
photograph
BZQ75.jpg  A warning notice?
(taken 19.11.2013)  

MN photo:-  
Hut.

photograph
BZQ76.jpg (taken 19.11.2013)  


photograph
CCX58.jpg  courtesy of Neville Walker.

:-  
Near the waterfall at the head of Tilberthwaite Gill. Worked in elizabethan times; last worked 1942.
North Lode, Shaft Lode, Benson's Lode, Benson's South Lode and Spedding's Lode, etc.

Adams, John: 1988: Mines of the Lake District Fells: Dalesman Books (Lancaster, Lancashire):: ISBN 0 85206 931 6

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