Monument record MDR14166 - Fritchley Sough, Kirkham Lane, Fritchley, Crich

Fritchley Sough has been included in the inventory of important lead mining sites in the Peak District. It is a small arched sough tail with a dated (1753) keystone. (1) Fritchley Sough was constructed to enable the lead miners at Crich to continue their work at greater depth without being obstructed by water. The sough was begun at Fritchley, to the south of Crich. It was driven by the owners of Old End Mine, and took a lot of time and money to complete. The entrance to the sough is on the east side of the brook, with a small, typical arch that is 2-3 feet high and 1 foot 6 inches wide. It has a stone flagged floor. The arch and the lining are of gritstone, and the date 1753 is cut on the facing of the arch. When examined a number of years ago there was a steady flow of water. It ranged northwards on the east side of the brook, and, as was common in earlier soughs, frequent shafts were sunk in the first part of it, there being three in the first 400 feet. On a 1762 plan, the sough had been driven almost to the east of Crich church [SMR 18414]. Eventually it reached Old End mine, by then having lost 40 foot of level, which is an unusually large amount. (2) A sough tail is visible in the stream bank at c. SK 358 534. It drained the lead mines at Crich. The keystone is engraved 1753. (3)