Believed to have been worked since Roman times, the lead mines at Snailbeach, nestled below the Stiperstone Hills, was the largest leadmine in Shropshire. Following closure in the 1950's, the mines were abandoned but are now managed on behalf of Shropshire Council by The Shropshire Mines Trust.
We were delighted when approached to carry out the works at the mines as we had just completed the restoration of a nearby miners' settlement at Blakemoorgate.
The primary task was to build a replica pithead winding gear over a shaft known as Black Tom.
The 'Black Tom' project was funded by Shropshire Council and led by Historic Environment senior conservation architect Philip Belchere; the Cbs team went under ground to retrieve remains of the original ironwork, which was copied and in many instances restored and re-used to create the new structure. Specialist carpenter Martin Johnson assisted with the construction of the frame, with details gleamed from crucial photographic and anecdotal evidence provided by local farmers Vincent and Vernon Chidley and their mother Margaret. The Chidley’s grandfather had worked down the 120ft deep Black Tom shaft, sunk in the 1820s.
The site is open to visitors all year round with trips into the mines conducted by The Shropshire Mines Trust.
For more information go to http://shropshiremines.org.uk/snailbeach/index.htm
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