Summary
The circle has experienced some setting over the years since it has ceased to be used. Some of the soft material which it rests on had been washed out, this was restored by Peak District Mines Historical Society in December 1973
Identification Images (1)
Monument Types
- CRUSHING CIRCLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Description
The crushing wheel with its iron tyre and circular iron track were erected in about 1823 at a cost of about œ40. Ores were brought from some miles away to be crushed and washed as well as what was processed from Odin Mine itself. The crusher ran on a circular iron track 37m wide and approximately 5.5m in diameter, built up of 8 segments bolted together on the underside with fish plates, and bedded on fine gravel. Still p reserved, the crusher consists of a gritstone wheel about 1.8m diameter and 30cm wide with a square hole 30cm square at its centre. The wheel is shod with an iron tyre 5cm thick which was held in place by wooden wedges, the remains of a wooden shaft passes through the centre hole. The crushing stone would have been linked to a pivot post in the centre of the circle by the wooden axle - part of which survives, and pulled around the track by a horse to crush ore spread on the track. The centre pivot block is recorded as missing.
The circle has experienced some setting over the years since it has ceased to be used. Some of the soft material which it rests on had been washed out, this was restored by Peak District Mines Historical Society in December 1973. A wall of stones was built under the iron ring and fine material was used to fill the depression and cover the wall, the materials were obtained from the site. The N.T survey team (1986) records that the crushing stone has shed its iron tyre - presumably when the wooden wedges which would have supported the tyre rotted away. The Crushing circle is a Scheduled Monument. Material was brought out of the mine for processing along the Cart Gate - the main haulage level - which emerged from Treak Cliff at about the same height O.D as the crushing circle. It was later crossed by Mam Tor road, built in 1802, but the tunnel beneath this road had to be filled in modern times as it showed signs of collapse from heavy traffic. The Cart Gate has collapsed or been filled in by the tailings from later fluorspar mining operations.
There are considerable remains of spoil heaps at the process site, despite re-working of dumps for there fluorspar content and removal of material for road building, but the policy of planting trees on the site threatens to isolate the crushing circle from it context. The Scheduled area extends beyond the crusher (refer to records) but while this recognises the importance of including the context of the site in its presentation and preservation, the area is limited. There is considerable erosion where visitors approach the crushing stone. Trent and Peak Archaeological Trust surveyed the crushing circle and its immediate area in 1989 at a 1:100 scale.
References
- SZE10172 - Unpublished document: G Guilbert, P D Claris. 1990. Correspondence re: Odin Mine, Castleton.
- SZE1388 - Article in serial: M E Smith. The Odin Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire. 1.
- SZE142 - Graphic material: P Pedley. Gritstone Crushing Wheel, Odin Mine, Castleton, Deryshire.
- SZE17855 - Photograph - black and white: Harry Beamish. 01/09/1986. Odin Mine crushing circle, Derwent Estate, High Peak Estate. 14.
- SZE31084 - Photograph - colour: 01/01/1986. Crushing Circle, Mam Tor, Edale, High Peak Estate.. 56.
- SZE40329 - Photograph - colour: 01/01/1986. Crushing Circle, Edale, High Peak Estate.. 69.
- SZE4457 - Unpublished document: G Guilbert. 1990. OMC Survey Report, Odin Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire.
- SZE455 - Article in serial: H E Chatburn. 1961. Recollections of a descent to the Cart Gate of the Odin Mine. 1. 4.
- SZE8549 - Unpublished document: Beamish, H. 1986. The National Trust Archaeological Survey - Edale (High Peak), Derbyshire.
- SZE8594 - Article in serial: T D Ford, J H Rieuwerts. 1976. Odin Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire. 6. 4.
Other Statuses and References
- HER/SMR Reference (External): 3327
- National Monuments Record Reference: SK18SW6
Associated Events
- ENA1041 - Field Survey, The National Trust Archaeological Survey - Edale (High Peak), Derbyshire
- ENA1089 - Field Survey, Measured survey/drawing of the crushing circle, Odin Mine, Edale
Associated Finds
None Recorded