Monument record MDR2397 - Former lead works, Brough, Brough and Shatton
Type and Period (3)
- LEAD WORKS (Victorian to Early 20th Century - 1860 AD to 1924 AD?)
- DOUBLING MILL (Victorian - 1840 AD? to 1860 AD)
- CONDENSING FLUE (Victorian to Early 20th Century - 1880 AD? to 1924 AD?)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
Brough Lead Works appear to have been built by R H Ashton of Marsh Green Cupola in about 1860, by enlarging an existing cotton mill, so as to manufacture white, grey and red lead. According to one source, it was later supposedly enlarged by his son, who built smelting works and a refinery. The total business was transferred to Brough in 1879 after the closure of Marsh Green, and was then known as Ashton and Moore. Ashton retired in 1880 and the reference to Ashton's son is therefore dubious. The smelting extension probably dates from this time. Under the ownership of J H Moore the mill was still in production after 1900. It is unlikely that Brough was a cupola works, as at this time it would be more usual to use Scotch Hearths and small blast furnaces for slag smelting. Today [1969] the works have been considerably modified by the present occupiers, but the flues leading to the chimney, as depicted on the OS 25 inch map of 1880, can in part still be traced. An early photograph of the Comb Mill just upstream has the upper part of the lead works chimney showing above the trees. (2)
Lead smelting ended in c.1924. (4)
The site consists of largely single storey mill buildings. On the wall of one mill building is a clock in the motif of the Festival of Britain with figures spelling ANAVIO (the Roman name for the fort at Brough) and hands representing a Roman eagle and Roman fasces. In 1846 this was a lace thread doubling mill operated by Pearson & Co. In 1860 Robert How Ashton enlarged it and converted it into a lead-smelting works. More recently its stone buildings have been the steel finishing works of Cooke and Stevenson Ltd. (springs, flap valves, diaphragms for heat-treated strip and wire) but the firm has now closed. (5)
Brough Lead Works started in the early 19th century as a cotton spinning mill. It became a lace thread doubling mill in 1846, before being converted to a white lead works in 1860. It is now used as an agricultural merchants, Mill Farm, and remains in good condition [1977]. (7-8)
Brough lead works flue. Condensing flue, about quarter of a mile, with extension at right angles, from the former Brough Lead Works (Stevenson Steel Works in 1981). (11)
A depression can be seen on the east/west base. On the north/south base there is a twin flue part of which is arched and part fallen in, the uphill continuation is no longer apparent in the field. (12)
The condensing flue leading from the Brough Lead Works to the south-east, with an extension at right angles leading to the south-west, was surveyed, photographed and described in some detail in 2001. There was a chimney at the south-east end of the flue which was removed within the 20th century. The south-west arm of the flue is in a different state of preservation than the parts of the flue running up the hillside. Here the flue can be seen as a low bank, whereas the two tunnels of the flue can be seen within the south-westerly section. (13)
Today, it forms the the Brough Business Centre. (14)
Sources/Archives (14)
- <1> SDR19259 Article in serial: Willies, L. 1969. 'Cupola lead smelting sites in Derbyshire, 1737-1900', Bulletin of the Peak District Mines Historical Society. Vol. 4, part 1. p 102.
- <2> SDR14721 Index: NDAT. NDAT: 2753.. 2753.
- <3> SDR12577 Article in serial: Willies, L. 1972. 'The development of lead smelting in Derbyshire', Peak Archaeological Society. Volume 27, pp 3-9.
- <4> SDR6994 Bibliographic reference: Harris, H. 1971. Industrial Archaeology of the Peak District.
- <5> SDR4751 Bibliographic reference: Fowkes, D. 1984. Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology - A Gazetteer of Sites. Part I. Borough of High Peak. p 6.
- <6> SDR19107 Photograph: Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA). 1998-2001. Peak District National Park Authority Farm Surveys. 2001: 379.6-11.
- <7> SDR19109 Bibliographic reference: Hill, R (PPJPB). 1985. Peak Park Treasures. Ashmore: 11. 1977: C90.
- <8> SDR18970 Photograph: Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA). Black and white photograph collection. 17.8-11.
- <9> SDR18970 Photograph: Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA). Black and white photograph collection. 478.17A-19A.
- <10> SDR18971 Photograph: Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA). Slide Collection. 2615.1-3.
- <11> SDR19109 Bibliographic reference: Hill, R (PPJPB). 1985. Peak Park Treasures. C129; L Willies, 27/3/81.
- <12> SDR12683 Personal Observation: Smith, K (PPJPB). K Smith (Peak Park Joint Planning Board) personal communication. 21.5.1992.
- <13> SDR19514 Unpublished document: Ullathorne, A (PDNPA). 2001. Mill Farm, Brough and Shatton, Bradwell, Thornhill, Aston and Hope, archaeological field survey,2001. Feature 16, p 6.
- <14> SDR22140 Bibliographic reference: Fowkes, D (ed.). 2004. Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology: A Gazetteer of Sites, Part I, Borough of High Peak (second edition). pp. 10.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 180 823 (243m by 237m) (Centre) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BROUGH AND SHATTON, HIGH PEAK, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- EDR3882
- EDR3774
- EDR3775
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Apr 21 2015 2:59PM