Putwell Hill Mine

[Royfellows]

I visited this mine today Sunday Dec 14 and got into a conversation with a gentleman who drew my attention to the archive photo recently uploaded of which I was unaware. He advised that he had been searching for the nearby Monsall Head Mine but could find no trace. We speculated that these two mines may be one and the same. The conversation moved to the blocked railway entrance and we agreed that it very likely predated the railway. I know that when open it immediately lead to a 20 ft ladder.

Searching my extensive library I find a copy of Richard Birds "Britains Old Metal Mines" and there is an undergound photo, circs 1976 ish at my guess from the publication date of the book, a real collectors item if ever there was one. Reproduced below, "Dickie" gave me permission a while back to use his photographs, at the time he was activelly uploadeding them all to aditnow. We all know where that went.
I also have the PDMHS volume to dig out and have a read

If you look carefully at the photo you will see a ladder in the far background. This may well be the old entry point from the railway.

I went on to look at the only open entry point, an "ah" moment. If anyone has had the nerve to get in there and take some photos, I am sure I speak for everyone in that we would all be grateful.

 

[AR.]

I was there today too, had a quick look while taking the dog for a walk on the railway. I have been in through the top entrance in the past, but didn't take any photos I'm afraid.

 

[Les Riley]

We, PDMHS were responsible for capping the railway entrance around 1974 ish. I imagine if it were still open today there would be CRO call-outs every weekend!
It is worth a look inside with the big stopes and slickensiding. The ladder went to Magpie for re-use elsewhere.
I'll have a root through my slides...
The two pumps that were installed U/G for washing water for the washing plant are now in the PD Mining Museum.

 

[Royfellows]

I have reproduced below the photo recently added to the sites photo collection. It is quite an eye opener in that there was originally an upper level at the base of the opencut, which the photo obviously depicts. I am wondering if this the level reached by the first pitch after the crawl in the present upper entrance. A document that I downloaded from the web describes 2 pitches, first is 7 metres, second "an awkward climb down, between boulders, leads to the head of the second pitch, an unstable slope, in a huge rift, ending with a 6m. free hang". Presumably the free hang is off the hanging wall of the lode

 

[AR.]

I was thinking the same after looking at the survey in Richard Shaw's PDMHS bulletin article, the level you land on after the pitch from the upper entrance looks about the right eleavtion for the one shown in this photo. I won't be rushing to ask Chatsworth if I can reopen it though!

 

[Eyam Explorer]

Monsal Dale station - Showing the headgear and buildings

 

[Eyam Explorer]

Another one, a bit grainy though.

 

[Royfellows]

The photos are very useful in that they place the shaft exactly where I believe that is, in front of the chimney.

I returned for another look on Saturday 20th Dec 2025, and refer to Richard "Dickie" Birds article in PDMHS Vol 5 No 1 of 1972. He made two visits in Dec 1961. My visit was prompted by various questions, one of which was wondering where the water was pumped to. The mine undoubtedly preceded the railway, interpretation boards were helpful as I got a date for the cutting of 1860 and I thought it odd that a cut and cover drainage adit was not made. The exploration description mentions a wall of deads at the railway end of the first stope to retain the embankment, so it would have been relatively easy to do this. Anyway, searching for this, nothing there.

Of course there being no immediate available water for ore dressing etc, so pumping to surface would be desirable. So where is the shaft at surface?

"Dickie" Birds surface plan and description puts the shaft behind (SW off) the chimney looking towards the opencut, and on the left. He mentions a depression with a pipe protruding. This is not the shaft, in fact his own sketch survey of the underground contradicts this. His underground survey drawing is actually very good for a sketch. Standing on the track looking up the bank, the shaft is immediately next to the boiler foundations, this sits together as the steam pipe runs down the shaft, and also with the old photos we now have. Its logical to have the shaft and boiler as close together as possible. Also, a shaft sunk to cut stopes below ground would have to be sunk on the hanging wall side of the vein, this location sits with this. He also mentions an absence of any lagging, I think in all probability is was of straw bound with twine which has rotted and fallen away over the years. What I found interesting is the shape of the concrete that must have partially overlapped the horizontal boiler since removed, a clear indication of this location. The shaft top I believe to be the flat area chimney side of the boiler foundations. There is a concrete covering over it of a texture and nature different to the original concrete work. The chimney is above this location and must connect by a flue, the rise in height giving improved draught.

Off topic, but there is a surface upright boiler in situ with a steam pipe running down a run in shaft close by, this is to be seen at Renwick Copper Mine in North Pennines, again total absence of any remaining lagging.

The surface remains at Putwell Hill are all in a tight little group which would greatly benefit from some tidying up, easily done with a shovel to remove moss etc. I think its worthy of a small project and I would gladly turn up to help. The remaining foundations are at risk from the trees sprouting up, some clearance would benefit the site.

PDMHS website has 3 articles available for download, the above mentioned, and also another survey and underground description by Richard Shaw.

My photo below, pop bottle indicates front right hand corner of concrete shaft capping.


(Vol. 7, No. 6). There is also an account of the recovery of the steam engine.

 

[AR.]

Ron Amner's article in bulletin vol 5 no. 6 goes into detail on how the second steam engine was recovered up the shaft, and includes a photo of the partly uncapped shaft taken by Harry Parker.

 

[Royfellows]

Thanks for that, I was unaware, but just checked and dont have that volume. I wouldn't mind seeing the photo, find out if I am right about the shaft location
I remember Harry Parker well. We got on very well.
Thinking about things a bit more, there are pipes sticking out of the bank above, mentioned by RB. At least one of these must have been an air pipe to the reeiver shown in entrance photo. They still there by the way, but one seems loose and may be just a section thrown there.
There must have been a surface steam engine as well for compressed air and shaft winding etc.
The little site has captured my interest as all can see.

 

[AR.]

Here's the article: https://pdmhs.co.uk/MiningHistory/B...ngine from Putwell Hill Mine, Monsal Dale.pdf

 

[SJT]

"The surface remains at Putwell Hill are all in a tight little group which would greatly benefit from some tidying up, easily done with a shovel to remove moss etc. I think its worthy of a small project and I would gladly turn up to help. The remaining foundations are at risk from the trees sprouting up, some clearance would benefit the site."

Put me down for that if you do get the go-ahead.

I can soon knock over any trees at risk of damaging the remains (forester by trade). Looks to be mostly small sycamore from the photo.

That should be easily do-able within the 5m3 quarterly allowance, so you won't need a felling license. Just a question of landowner's permission.

If we had a few people to hand ball the stuff, we could construct habitat piles with the felled material for a double benefit for the site.

Don't want to hang about scheduling a date if you want to get it done this season, or we're liable to run into issues with nesting birds. Otherwise it's one for next winter.

Sam T (TSG)

 

[Royfellows]

Here's the article: https://pdmhs.co.uk/MiningHistory/Bulletin 5-6 - Recovery of the second Steam Engine from Putwell Hill Mine, Monsal Dale.pdf

Thank you very much for this. It answers a lot of my questions.
Are the engines in the museum? Its been a while since I was last there.

Also
It looks as though I have the shaft correctly placed as best as I can see.
There is a concrete pillar with acuriuosly moulded top, photos below. This is in line with my placing of the shaft.
The "moulding" of the top looks like to accomodate a pulley or similar, anyone have any ideas on this?

 

[AR.]

Thank you very much for this. It answers a lot of my questions.
Are the engines in the museum? Its been a while since I was last there.

Also
It looks as though I have the shaft correctly placed as best as I can see.
There is a concrete pillar with acuriuosly moulded top, photos below. This is in line with my placing of the shaft.
The "moulding" of the top looks like to accomodate a pulley or similar, anyone have any ideas on this?

Yes, the engines are still in the Museum, down at the back near the rag & chain pump. As for the pillar, maybe an anchor point for a guide cable?

Chatsworth own the site and I need to talk to them about another matter, so I'll ask about doing some clearing work around the structures. The thing that may slow matters down is that the site is now a scheduled monument, so Historic England will need to be consulted and they may require an application for monument consent.

 

[Royfellows]

Thanks for this. There now 2 volunteers to work on the site inc me, so leave matters with you for time being.

 

[Les Riley]

I have dug out some Putwell photos from when we recovered the second steam pump from the shaft there.
The pumps were only there to get water to the surface for dressing. They were in a little sump at the shaft bottom which we easily pumped out with a small petrol engined pump to release the steam pump from its mountings.
The photos show the site of the shaft which we uncovered. It had been concreted over and just for fun, they had used the old winding rope for reinforcing. It made breaking the cap up very tedious. We re-concreted it over after our works.
These are photos from the late Ron Amner.

 

[Eyam Explorer]

Great pics Les, who’s the chap on the left in pic 0031

 

[Royfellows]

I am still contemplating Les's photos. What has happened to the massive structure behind the shaft?
If collapsed, it would make quite a mound, could it have been taken away for say building walls or other construction?
I struggle bady to reconsile these photos with what we see today.

 

[AR.]

Great pics Les, who’s the chap on the left in pic 0031

... apparently with a large spliff in his mouth!

I am still contemplating Les's photos. What has happened to the massive structure behind the shaft?
If collapsed, it would make quite a mound, could it have been taken away for say building walls or other construction?
I struggle bady to reconsile these photos with what we see today.

That's the retaining wall with the chimney on top, so facing upwards from the track towards the chimney, the shaft is a little to the right by my reckoning.

These are photos from the late Ron Amner.

Did his passing get reported in the newsletter? I must have missed that if it was. I don't think I ever met him, but I worked with his daughter-in-law at one point.

 

[Les Riley]

The gentleman in question is Nick Hunt (now Nick Hunt-Davies). A PDMHS member from the early 70's. He is smoking a clay pipe - quite the thing at the time...
He subsequently went to Camborne and has worked in mining ever since, all abroad.
Others in the photos include Terry Worthington (orange helmet), John Peel (left on pic 0040) and myself ( centre pic 0040)
These were taken later in 1974.
For shaft location, note the access track very close by with the Land Rover and winch parked up.

Ron wasn't mentioned in the latest newsletter but his death may have missed the deadline? Also it wasn't well publicised. Terry and I didn't find out until after his funeral.

Some more shots:-
0023 being late 60's/early 70's when the two pumps were still insitu.