Monument record MDR3422 - Yokecliffe Rake, Hopton
Type and Period (3)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
Long lead rake extending from west of Wirksworth to north of Carsington, with approx. 26 mine shafts, some with gin circles and climbing shafts. (1)
The Yokecliffe Rake is a geological fault filled with mineral deposits, situated to the west of Wirksworth and running from east to west, the most southerly rake in the limestone outcrop. The visible rake is about 3km long and generally 3m wide, although beneath Wirksworth Gate House the vein is said to be 10m wide. At Yokecliffe Mine the engine shaft was 104m deep. The Rake has a high number of old lead mines as well as two long and several short drainage soughs, with Wirksworth boasting the most complex man-made drainage system in Derbyshire. Remains along the Rake consist of large hillocks, representing the site of a mine, with smaller hillocks between them. (3)
Yokecliffe Rake, Quickset, Old Gells, Shinning Cloud and Nile Mines is an area with surviving hillocks and many capped shafts. The remains on Yokecliffe Rake comprise very large hillocks spaced at frequent intervals, with smaller hillocks between, each of the former the site of an underground mine. Several of these have ruined coes on the hillock tops and that at Quickset Mine also has a small walled mound-top dressing floor. There are also ruined coes elsewhere in the defined area. Old Gells Mine on Yokecliffe Rake provides an exceptionally interesting but small example of easily accessible underground vein and pipe workings. This mine includes evidence for early firesetting work. (4)
Wirksworth was one of the most important centres of the lead-mining industry and an early centre of large scale quarrying. The northern ands western sides of the town were surrounded by lead mines and a number of significant residual features remain. (5)
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SDR16293 Bibliographic reference: Willies, L PDMHS 11-Jan-70.
- <2> SDR18789 Map: Ordnance Survey (OS). 1882. OS County Series, 1st edition, scale 1:2500 (c. 25" to one mile). XXXIV.13.
- <3> SDR20123 Unpublished document: Sheppard, R & Wilson, A (TPAU). 2007. An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment of Land near Godfreyhole, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. pp 8-9.
- <4> SDR19821 Bibliographic reference: Barnatt, J. 2004. An Inventory of Regionally & Nationally Important Lead Mining Sites in the Peak District. Vol. 2: Corpus of Sites. p 165-166, site no. 118.
- <5> SDR18788 Bibliographic reference: Fowkes, D (ed.). 1997. Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology. A Gazetteer of Sites. Part IV. Derbyshire Dales.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 26789 54001 (1896m by 809m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | HOPTON, DERBYSHIRE DALES, DERBYSHIRE |
| Civil Parish | WIRKSWORTH, DERBYSHIRE DALES, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
- EDR2392
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External Links (0)
Record last edited
Dec 14 2017 4:41PM