Map of Rimmington Mine From British Mining No.33 © MC Gill

Map of Rimmington Mine
From British Mining No.33 © MC Gill

This mine, near Clitheroe, is on one of a number of anticlines which bring limestone to the surface in this area.

In the 17th century it was famed as a source of silver-rich lead, but that did not last.

An attempt to mine lead in the 1820s must have met with some success because a smelt mill was built. It had a short flue which ran to a chimney near Skelhorn Wood.

Between 1880 and 1885 the York & Lancaster United Mining Co. Ltd sank a shaft and raised some ore. Unfortunately, James Wiseman, the banksman in charge of the shaft top, fell down the shaft and was killed in September 1884.

See: Gill, M.C. The Yorkshire and Lancashire Lead Mines: A Study of Lead Mining in the South Craven and Rossendale Districts (British Mining No.33, 1987)

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