Greenside Lead Mine, Glenridding, Cumbria. Archaeological Excavation, Survey, and Watching Brief

A programme of archaeological investigation and recording was conducted by Oxford
Archaeology North (OA North), on behalf of the Lake District National Park Authority, at
the Greenside Lead Mine, Cumbria (centred on NY 360 180). A section of the tailings dam
failed in 1990, causing a landslide and the deposition of the tailings into Swart Beck, and
from there into Ullswater. In order to prevent further failure, an engineering programme
was proposed which provided for the improvement of the drainage at the top of the dam,
the reduction of gradient of the tailings dam, and the stabilisation of the base of the dam
with a gabion wall. An initial phase of archaeological test pitting was undertaken to
identify archaeologically sensitive areas, with the results presented in an earlier report (OA
North 2001). An updated project design was devised based on the results of this earlier
evaluation, which included the archaeological excavation of elements of the Low Mill
complex, detailed recording of the remains of No. 2 Power House, a survey along the line
of the proposed drain at the top of the tailings dam, and a photographic record of the series
of revetment walls on the site. A watching brief was also maintained during the
consolidation works at various points across the site. The work was undertaken between
May and September 2002, the results of the investigations having been combined with a
study of the available documentary and cartographic sources to provide a detailed record of
elements of the mine complex presented in this report.