Midgeholme Colliery

The remains of mine workings at Midgeholme Colliery next to Black Burn

Abandoned coal wagon?

Interesting strata on the slag heaps

Midgeholme to Tindale track bed

Track bed on a straight gradient up to Tindale from Midgeholme

Remains of the track bed running to Midgeholme Quarry with Tindale Fells in the background

Old sidings at White’s Cut Colliery just above Midgeholme

Track bed running beside the A689 trunk road

Entrance to an abandoned drift mine; Prior Drift ?

Long straight gradient into Bishop Hill Junction and Tindale Fell Spelter Works

Tindale Fell Spelter Works

Spelter = crude smelted zinc

The 19th century zinc spelter works and the 20th century fume works at Tindale an the Great Battery - part of Lord Carlisle's rail system - are scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the buildings of Tindale Fell Spelter Works and the ‘Great Battery’ embankment carrying Lord Carlisle’s Railway. The 20th century fume works at Tindale is the only such plant in England where appreciable structural remains are known to survive in situ. Also of national importance is the ‘Great Battery’, an early 19th century railway embankment which carried the Hallbankgate to Midgeholme railway line. This line was the first non-Stephenson standard gauge railway line in the country to use wrought iron rails.

For more information see here

The remains of Tindale Fell Spelter Works look west towards Tarnhouse Rigg.

The remains of Tindale Fell Spelter Works looking east towards Midgeholme. The ‘Great Battery’ Railway embankment is clearly seen on the left running along the side of Tarn Beck.