Wakebridge mine

Wakebridge mine mao

Photos courtesy Geoff Dawes archives

Wakebridge mine

Wakebridge mine

Old postcard of Wakebridge lead mine

Whites Directory 1857
CRICH CLIFF mines, known by the names of Bacchus’ Pipe, Glory, Pearson’s Venture, and Wakebridge, with several others in the neighbourhood, have been the most productive of any in the county for the last 40 years. One-ninth of the produce is given to the lords of the manor; W. E. Nightingale, Esq. receives one-sixth of the ore raised at Wakebridge mine, as lessor, Messrs. Wass and Co. are the lessees; this mine is at present standing, Crich has long been noted for its mines, for we find, in the time of the Norman survey, Leuric and Levenot held a lead mine at Crich.

Miners' Hack

There was a public house (or Ale House) at Wakebridge. The local miners were paid their wages here and is reported thatthey then proceeded to drink much of what they earned away.

Photo courtesy Mr and Mrs F. Dyson

site of Miners'Hack at Wakebridge

Site of Miners' Hack Pub, now a private house

Recorded in an article in THE MANCHESTER ASSOCIATION OF ENGINEERS SESSION 1968-69 No. 5: VIEW

Children's Employment Commission 1842
REPORT by J. M FELLOWS, Esq., on the Employment of Children and Young Persons in the Mines and Collieries of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and on the State, Condition and Treatment of such Children and Young Persons.

No.494. William Frost.
He is the agent to Mr. Wass, Mr. Allsop and Mr. Cox. They now have five shafts or mines at
work. Wakebridge is 184 yards deep. It is worked by an engine. They have three waggon ways,
one is between 400 and 500 yards, the other two much less. The waggons are pushed by young men 17 or 18 year old. They have no younger in the pit. They are paid by the shift and only work six hours a day and earns about 12s. per week. The lead is let to the whole body of miners, say 45 or 50 who find the young men and pay them their wages. They descend and ascend by ladders, never by the main shaft. He frequently goes down the mines and windways. Wakebridge is well winded from various old shafts. They have no wildfire and but little sulphur. Glory is 60 yards deep. There are six or eight waggon ways from 100 to 500 yards long. The waggons are drawn by young men 17 or 18 year old. The mine is ventilated from an old shaft and cupola. It is well winded and they have no wildfire or sulphur.

Wakebridge Lead Mine. The following dressers:-
No.501. George Woolley.

He is 17 years old and has worked at the mines five years. He has 7s. per week and did nothing before he came to the mines. He begins at half past six to half past five with half an hour for breakfast and half an hour for dinner. He never works nights or Sundays. Sometimes he works two hours a day overwork for which he is paid. He attends the Lea Unitarian Sunday School and he is taught reading, writing and accounts. He is in multiplication.
[An intelligent youth.]

No.502. William Pearson.
He is 12 years old and has worked half a year and earns 3s. 6d. per week. He was one year at a day school and now goes to the Wirksworth Baptist Sunday School. He cannot write his name but reads in the Testament.
Cannot spell bread.

No.504. William Else.
He is 13 years old and has worked for four years and has 5s. 6d. per week. He goes to the Wirksworth Church Sunday School and has been for four years. He is only in the spelling book and cannot spell church or chapel but knows what c o w spells.

No.505. George Walker.
He is 14 years old and has worked for three years and earns 7s. per week. He has been five years to a day school and now goes to the Crich Baptist Sunday School. He is in long division, writes and reads in the Testament.
[Appears intelligent.]

No.506. Andrew Blackwell.
He is 12 years old and has worked for three years. He has 4s. per week and goes to the Lea Methodist Sunday School and has been two years to a day school. He cannot write but reads in the Bible.
[Very moderate speller.]

No.507. William Wortley.
He is 12 years old and has worked at the mines only half a year. He was a wood turner but likes his present work best. He has been one year at the Lea Unitarian Sunday School. He writes and reads in the Bible.
[Very intelligent.]

No.508. William Walton.
He is 14 years old and has worked for four years and has 5s. per week. He attends the Crich Baptist Sunday School and has been at day school a year. He can write his name and learns to write and reads in the Testament.
[Spells middling.]

No.509. Mr. Joseph Mather, Barmaster for the Manor of Crich.
The principle worker of the mines are the Glory Company, Mr. Jos. Wass and Co., Bacchus Pipe Company, Jos. Wass and Co., Pearson’s Venture, John Allsop and Co., Old End Mine or Crich Old Sough, Francis Hurt, Esq., Under Town Mine, the Butterley Company. He considers they all employ children and young people. He has been barmaster 11 years. He believes neither young nor old work more than six hours a day in the mines. The dressers never more than 12 hours in summer and not so much in winter. He considers the mining children better off than others so much so that they are willing, when wanted, to come six or seven miles to work. He is also the agent for the Butterley Company. In these mines they have none under 13 and only one under 18 years old.

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Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol 15 - Vol 16
Publisher: London & Derby, 1893 - 1894.
"Notes on Crich Hill" by H. Arnold-Bemrose, M.A., F.G.S.
VIEW the article

Crich lead veins 1778
An Account of all the Veins belonging to Critch Sough within the Manner and Liberty of Critch On now the First day of Nov. 1778 So all in good Repair and in Manner following.
VIEW the account

DALES, SCENERY, FISHING STREAMS, AND MINES OF
DERBYSHIRE, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES,
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL 1861
At the Wakebridge Mine, which is on the lowest part of the western margin of the cliff, they have a powerful engine to lift their water into this level. It is 500 feet to the level from the top of their working shaft, and they are 60 feet below this ; hence the pump road is 560 feet long. They are now driving to the north, in hope of falling in with a rich lode of ore. It has been exceedingly rick The Gingler Mine, on the south of the cliff, belonging to the same proprietors, is still productive, and has been in continual work for many years. The Old End, to the north of the cliff, is now at a low ebb. On the road from the Wakebridge Mine to Holloway, there are some of the most beautiful and commanding views of any in the county.