Woodhead, Lead Mines And Smelter
Lead Mine (19th Century), Lead Smelter (19th Century), Village (19th Century)
Site Name Woodhead, Lead Mines And Smelter
Classification Lead Mine (19th Century), Lead Smelter (19th Century), Village (19th Century)
Canmore ID 63884
Site Number NX59SW 1
NGR NX 531 936
NGR Description Centred NX 531 936
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/63884
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Carsphairn
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Stewartry
- Former County Kirkcudbrightshire
NX59SW 1.00 centred 531 936
NX59SW 1.01 NX 531 936 Lead Mine; Lead smelter
NX59SW 1.02 Centred NX 529 936 Miners' Rows; Buildings
Lead was mined at Woodhead by the proprietor, Col M Cathcart, between 1840 and 1873. A large 'model' village, whose population became about 300, was built with a school and schoolhouse. The most modern smelting and crushing equipment was installed. When the mine was closed, the shafts were fenced off and used as rubbish tips. The depopulated houses are now ruinous.
J Sassoon 1969.
Desk-based assessments and surveys were carried out between October and December 2002 at three metal mining sites in Galloway. [see NX37SE 12 and NX56SW 2 also]
NX 532 936 Woodhead Mine, near Carsphairn. The Scheduled remains include: a lead smelter; lade systems; dressing floors; shafts; and a deserted mining village incorporating miners' cottages, garden plots, school library and administration building. Earlier settlement remains in the form of buildings and property boundaries are also present. The survey confirmed that Woodhead Mine has undergone significant alteration at its core, with the removal of a great deal of mine spoil for track building. The structural elements are in a poor state of preservation, the worst being the smelter chimneys and the remains of the school. Other features, such as shafts and adits, were found to be in a generally good condition.
Report lodged with Dumfries and Galloway SMR and the NMRS.
Sponsors: HS, Dumfries and Galloway Council.
M Cressey and K Hicks 2003
Standing Building Recording (13 July 2022 - 25 August 2023)
NX 52964 93598 A building survey was undertaken at Woodhead Lead Mine, Carsphairn. The works were carried out by volunteers supported by Rathmell Archaeology staff. The mine at Woodhead was a rare example of a total production unit in Scotland – one which mined, crushed, washed and smelted the lead before it was exported – but it was also a village: the landowner who established the mine built housing, a school and even founded a library for the workers so that they could form their own community in this remote setting. The building survey aimed to generate a record of the historic fabric of the structures before they deteriorate any further and comprised a photographic record, a written record, and sketched plans and elevations of the existing structures. Focusing on the buildings at the western end of the mining complex, seven structures were recorded, which included the manager’s house and office, two rows of miners’ cottages, stables, a powder magazine and a school. The structures vary in their state of survival; while none remain roofed, the height of the standing walls range from one or two courses up to full height. Over 300 photographs were generated from the survey, capturing information on fabric, current condition and varying phases of modification and use.
Information from C. Williamson - Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, 2023.
OASIS ID: rathmell1-437549
