Upper Wadhole, Adit/Mine, Borrowdale

Record ID:  25585 / MNA117985
Record type:  Monument
Protected Status: Scheduled Monument, World Heritage Site
NT Property:  Borrowdale; North
Civil Parish:  Borrowdale; Allerdale; Cumbria
Grid Reference:  NY 230 128
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Summary

Upper Wadhole, where Gorton's and Woodman's pipes came to the surface, and which is now marked by a large crater.

Identification Images (0)

Monument Types

  • GRAPHITE MINE (Mid 16th C to Late 19th C - 1555 AD to 1900 AD)
  • ADIT (Mid 16th C to Late 19th C - 1555 AD to 1900 AD)

Description

The remains on Seatoller Common are characterised by numerous small trials as opposed to the major levels dug on the lower slopes. An exception is the site of the upper Wadhole, where Gorton's and Woodman's pipes came to the surface, and which is now marked by a large crater. The Upper Wadhole was already deep enough to be recorded as flooded when visited by the Commissioners of the Mines Royal in 1555 and was probably where the graphite was first discovered; it was reworked repeatedly during the mine's history. The Wad Hole is 40m by 29m at its widest points and has a large amount of rock outcrop exposed in its sides. At its base, in the centre are some unidentifiable scarps, less than 0.3m high (Lax, A. 1995).

References

  • SNA61977 - Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeology North. 2007. Historic Landscape Survey of Borrowdale, Cumbria.

Designations

Other Statuses and References

None Recorded

Associated Events

  • ENA4020 - Field Survey, Historic Landscape Survey of Borrowdale, Cumbria

Associated Finds

None Recorded

Related Records

  • Related to: Graphite (Wad) Mine on Seathwaite Farm, Borrowdale (Monument) - 20118 / MNA119961