The Millclose mine near Wensley struck it rich when most other mines were closing.
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Millclose Mine was situated near Wensley and was probably the most successful of the Peak District mines on account of the pipe veins running through the region. At the end of the life of the mine, it was about 300m deep. In common with the other Peak District mines, in the late 1850s, Millclose was running out of ore, then a breakthrough into a rich ore vein revitalised it. This vein had many subsidiary flat veins and pipes leading off it which kept the mine going for another 60 years or so. Caverns containing huge quantities of sphalerite (zinc ore) and galena (lead ore) in very pure states were found. Often, it took very little effort to mine them. Fantastic crystals of calcite and galena were discovreed, up to 30cm in size. |
In 1938 came the beginning of the end. Miners hit an underground lake or river and it took many months to pump the mine clear. The mine was finally closed in 1940 with over 2000 litres of water per minute still pouring in. In 100 years, Millclose mine produced well over half a million tons of lead ore and almost 100,00 tons of zinc ore. About half of the lead tonnage was actually produced in the 1920s with a further 140,000 tons by re-working the spoil heaps in the 1930s and 40s. |
