Lead and Leadmining

ISBN-13: 9780852635964 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 32 str.

Lynn Willies

Opis

Leadmining was an important industry in Britain from the time of the Romans until the late nineteenth century - its remains are to be found scattered in and under the hills of south-west England, Wales, the Mendips and the Pennines, and in the Lake District, Isle of Man and Scotland. From the thousands of early small mines, leadmining by the eighteenth century was forced to use capital-intensive methods to cope with deeper deposits and great inflows of water, including very long levels and steam engines. Lead smelters, too, had to adapt and they developed new furnaces. By the 1880s, however, imports killed the industry, and only three mines have been successful since, all now closed. This book describes the way lead was mined and smelted, the lives of the workforce and the industry's ultimate decline.
About the author
Lynn Willies has been interested in leadmining for many years. He has specialised in the Peak District industry and was awarded a PhD for his work by Leicester University. Dr Willies lectures in geology and economic history at a college of technology.