A bright, crisp November morning greeted 15 members to a very interesting walk led by Dave Brooks. The Keld Heads lead mining and smelting complex is hidden away in a wooded area near Preston under Scar. As luck would have it, a recent survey by Oxford Archaeology North has led to a clear out of some of the vegetation, affording us good access to the site. We made our way down to the Keld Heads main level and had a look around some of the remaining structures, including the engine house, which supported the engine used for pumping and winding in the mine, the remains of the wheelpit, the smelt mill, and the peat store. We followed the multiple flues up the hill, which then merge into a double-chambered flue. We also had a look at the dams toward the north end of the site. All in all a very enjoyable and informative morning. A big thank you to Dave for organising the walk, and to the Bolton Castle Estate for allowing us to trample through their woods. |