Construction award given for a restored lead mine

A lead mine in County Durum has been given an award for construction excellence.

Funded under an environmental stewardship agreement between Natural England and the land owners, Malcolm and James Nattrass, the Low Slit Mine situated near Westgate, Weardale was presented a North East’s Heritage award after the Mine was placed on the Heritage at risk list and has now finally been restored by a skilled team.

All of the original features in the Lead Mine have been preserved like the Ore washing floor, this is where the women and children would pick out the heavy lead ore to separate it from the lighter waste minerals. The base for an Armstrong hydraulic engine which was used for the mine shaft, and a row of bouseteams, this is where the lead that was brought out by the minors was stored.

Natural England’s North of England regional manager, Robert Burnett said “An important example of the industrial heritage of the North Pennines and the rare plants that have subsequently colonised the site have been saved from further deterioration as a result of this work.”