Roman Gravels Mine
- HER Number (PRN): 01318
- Site Name : Roman Gravels Mine
- Protected Status:
Grade: Ref No.: 1018460 Title: Roman Gravels lead mine Type: Scheduled Monument - Civil Parish:
- Grid Reference: SO 334 1000
- Related Monuments:
- Brief Description: Scheduled Monument: One of Shropshire's most historic lead mines, the Gravels mine was worked in the Roman period, again in the medieval period (it provided the lead for Glastonbury Abbey in the 13th century) and yet again in the 18th-19th century (when it was at the cutting edge of technology and amongst the most productive of the lead mines). It finally closed in 1895.
- Description: Recent mining at Shelve Hill, (written 1878), has revealed numerous shafts and galleries of Roman Lead workings. Rubbish filling in them contained two oak spades, two candles and Roman coins [<1a>].->
-> Old lead workings supposed to be Roman. The tools found could just as well be Medieval as Roman. Roman pottery and coins found in rubbish outside the mines proves noting definite…If Roman workings existed at Shelve, it is very likely they were obliterated by later miners using similar mining methods [<1b>].->
-> The Gravel Mine is the suggested findspot of a Roman lead pig, but this is probably in error [<1c>].->
-> The King's lead mine at Shelve was being worked in 1179. The rock faces of the southernmost extremity of that part of the Roman Gravels Mine, now disused, at Shelve….show considerable weathering through aerial denudation, suggesting the workings, here, to be of some antiquity, but no evidence was found to substantiate a Roman date. OS FI 1973 <1>
Roman activity here may be indicated by open workings at SO3340 9985, but in 1870s Roman material was found at 50ft and over in deep workings. No further data until 1780-1820. Boulton and Watt engine installed after 1788; 1825 -late 1840s; Productive from 1860s-1880s . Closed in 1895.
Open excavation by Romans is still seen in the hillside above the nineteenth century mining ruins.(Plate 4 p. 36). The ore was carried in a white 'rider' of calcite, and it was this which enabled the ore to be exposed and so worked. It is likely that the Romans used deep mining methods, because in the 1870s miners broke into workings 50ft below the surface which contained pottery and tools from Roman times. Details of ownership from 1780s to closure in 1895 described in this source. The main remains at Roman Gravels are on the hill above the turnpike road, opposite spoil heaps which point to the high tonnage of ore produced. Higher up the hill is the ruin of the 60in Cornish engine house at the New South Engine shaft, with pump rods in situ. <2>
The engine house of the 20ins engine survives at the top of the hill east of the road, and two fragmentary ones beside the road on the east side [<3>].
Desk based assessment with field walk over surveys undertaken in 1994 as part of the South Shropshire Lead Mines Survey. Although the mine named Roman Gravel Mine is believed to be of Roman date, there are no surface features that can readily be classed as Roman. There is a high possibility that the dressing floor still exists under spoil to the north west of the A488. Access to the upper section of the mine was difficult and some mining remains have been levelled by recent Forestry Commission work. The existing remains should be considered for statutory protection. <11>
Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, as one of less than 10 Romano-British Mines <12>
The workings revealed by workmen in the 1870s contained pottery and tools from the Roman period. The ore was carried in a white 'rider' of calcite and it was this which enabled the ore to be exposed and so worked <13>
Scheduled in 1999. Scheduling description: ->
-> The monument is situated on steeply sloping land in the Hope Valley, approximately 1km north of the village of Shelve. It includes the ruined buildings, earthworks and buried remains of the Roman Gravels lead mine. This is one of a group of lead mines in the area which were of great significance in the lead industry of the 19th century and earlier. Prior to 1850 the site was known as Gravels or Shelvefield Gravels. The discovery by miners in the 19th century of earlier shafts containing pottery and wooden shovels, as well as the discovery of Roman coins and a lead pig (ingot) in spoil, and the presence of Roman-style opencuts, suggest that the area was first mined during the Roman period, possibly around AD 120. Mining was certainly taking place by the 12th century, when sheriff's records mention 'the King's miners at Shelve', and during the 13th century the mine provided lead for Glastonbury Abbey. ->
-> In the late 18th and early 19th century the mine was part of the Roman Mine Complex. John Lawrence and Co., who ran Roman Gravels from 1784 in conjunction with other local mines, were innovative in applying new technology to problems of drainage and winding, and were among the first in the world to introduce Boulton & Watt steam engines. Of nine such engines installed in the Shropshire orefield by 1800, three were in place at Roman Gravels by 1790. The last of these was an experimental suspended-beam design, whilst another was a 'blowing engine', presumably to supply a draught for smelting the lead. Despite this large investment, Lawrence abandoned the mine as unprofitable around 1820. Later owners included Lewis and Phillips, and the Grit and Gravel , Company. The mine was very productive in the mid-1830s, but declined and was closed in the late 1840s; a first attempt at reopening in the mid-1850s was defeated by drainage problems, and it was another effort led by Richard Palin which succeeded. The mine became famously productive in the 1870s, striking rich veins at depth. The New Engine shaft was sunk in 1871 and equipped with a Cornish pumping engine. The tradition of technological innovation was upheld with trials of compressed air drills and the subsequent installation of a compressor, possibly in the former winding house at the Old Engine shaft. The mine was badly affected by the late 19th century slump in lead prices however, and closed for the last time in 1895. ->
-> Surface remains include a very large opencut working of up to 10m depth and 20m width, running north-south in the southern part of the site. This is the largest of several workings thought to be Roman in origin. There is a similar, shallower opencut to the west, and further small cuts to the south where exposed working faces are visible. Evidence of Roman mining techniques will be preserved in this area, as will remains of shafts and galleries described in 19th century sources as Roman. ->
-> The 18th and 19th century remains are mainly visible in the south eastern corner and north western parts of the monument. At the south eastern corner of the site are the remains of the New Engine shaft, and the associated engine house to the east. The engine house survives as a collapsed slate building of around 8.5m by 4m, the north wall standing to around 2m high. Pumping rods, a form of power transmission, were seen protruding from the shaft in 1965, and in 1979 a smaller ginged (timber-lined) shaft was seen nearby. These features will survive as buried remains, providing information on 19th century mining technology. Hillocky ground in woodland to the south west indicates that further shafts and buried remains are preserved beneath later deposits in this area. ->
-> Further, extensive 18th and 19th century remains are preserved on a roadside platform in the north west part of the monument. The northernmost of these include the remains of the Old Engine House, where a Boulton & Watt steam engine was installed in 1788, and associated buildings including a winding house with intact engine bed and iron fixtures. These remains will provide valuable data on the use and development of steam engines at this period. Also preserved here are the Old Engine Shaft itself; an adit or mine entrance connecting with shafts and pump rod systems elsewhere in the monument; the ruins of mine buildings, including offices and ancillary workshops; and sections of a tramway which formerly ran west over the nearby road to an ore processing area, now much disturbed and therefore excluded from the scheduling. ->
-> All modern fences, boundary walls and track surfaces, and the gravel surface covering capped shafts, are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included <14>
Site investigation undertaken in 1999 by Wardell Armstrong Ltd at the Roman Gravels Mine complex, near Hope village, Shropshire. A total of 16 mine shafts and 8 adits were examined, none of which were found to provide direct access to the underground workings. The area had been extensively mined for lead and zinc through the 18th and 19th centuries and abandoned in 1893. A ground collapse at Wood Level affecting the A488 forced an urgent review of the area and found that the mining predated the construction of the road. The public highway along the Hope Valley was constructed as a turnpike road subsequent to 1808 but the Wood Level was draining the Roman Gravels Mines as early as the 1780s. ->
There is no current archaeological interest associated with the mine entries however; Adit RGO (part of the Roman Gravels Mine) could provide the only practicable means of accessing the main complex of underground workings. Controlled infilling was recommended for this adit. The remains of the pumping engine house, winding engine/ compressor house, offices and two ore hoppers are visible adjacent to shafts at the Roman Gravels Mine entrance. Recommendations were made that these remains should be considered for statutory protection and possible consolidation to prevent further deterioration. The 1994 desk based assessment identified the probability of extensive remains of the dressing floor (including two water wheel pits) for the Roman Gravels Mine surviving below reworked spoil in the area. <15>
MU.320.13 Unit 1: A probable mine of Roman date, seen as an earthwork, and mapped from small-scale excavation.->
-> MU.113.19 Unit 1: A probable spoil heap of Roman date, seen as an earthwork, and mapped from non-destructive fieldwork. EH Author: FJS Date: 06/05/94 ->
-> MU.113.23 Unit 1: A probable mine shaft of unknown date, seen as an earthwork, and mapped from non-destructive fieldwork. EH Author: FJS Date: 06/05/94 <19>
Roman Gravel Mine - Material mined: Lead. Geology: Mytton Flags. Worked: Abandoned 1912, 1925. Visited: 5, 6/1979. This mine site was used for demolition practice during the war; hence little remains of its former glory. The remains of a pumping engine can be seen on the east side of the road. This pumped from Old Engine Shaft, now completely crowned. The 'footings of a horizontal winder for this shaft are also present. Behind the engine house the back walls of two ore bins can be seen and above these is the portal of the Day Level, which can be traced up the hill as a series of collapse depressions to New Engine Shaft. This appears to be blocked with rubbish some way down. In 1964, two pumping rods appeared to project from the shaft, though in fact they were two parts of the same rod. Both have now slipped down the shaft.->
-> To the N of New Engine Shaft is Boundary Shaft. It was open in 1960 but the tip has since been pushed down it, though subsidence is continuing. This shaft, although on First North Vein which branches off Roman Vein, was worked by the California Engine of East Roman Gravels Mine. Below Boundary Shaft are two others on Second North Vein. One of these is flooded to within 6ft of surface, while the other is blocked with tyres 25ft down, this maybe the shaft descended in 1964, when it was 40ft deep to the top of a deep stope, described as unpleasantly loose. An adit in this area which in 1964 led a waterfilled stope was not found.->
-> Returning to New Engine Shaft and following the track towards Ladywell, a small singed shaft on the Sawpit Vein is resent on the left at the end of the forestry. It is blocked with sheep and other rubbish 120ft down, before any side passages. Further down the track, by the layby, is a path leading down the hill to Spring Vein Pit. This large shaft is still open and leads to deep water a long way down.->
-> Roman Gravels Mine is known to have been worked opencast by the Romans around 120 ADD. Three sets of opencast are present: a small one just to the N of Old Engine Shaft on First North Vein, a very large one 50yds to the S on Roman Vein, and another small one 70yds further on, on Sawpit Vein.->
-> The Hope Brook can be followed up the valley to the Roman Gravels tips, where it issues from a culvert. This is about 5ft across, with stone walls and a brick arched roof. For most of its 200yd length it is about 411ft high with a paved floor. One 24 inch culvert (explored for 100ft till it narrows) enters from the right about 100yds along, before a collapse of the brickwork has allowed large rocks to block it. Most of the water enters a seepage on the left. The culvert is decorated with white stalactites to 2ft. With stalagmite columns to 9 inches.->
-> East Roman Gravel Mine - Material mined: Lead. Geology: Mytton Flags. Worked: Abandoned 1901. Visited: 5/1979. East Roman Gravel Mine is located at the northern end of the spoil tips in the Hope Valley. By following the track that leads up past the tips, Black Gin Shaft can be seen on the right. The shaft is completely blocked, only the fence post indicating its whereabouts. The line of four air shafts into the Wood Level, all blocked with rubbish, can be seen from here.- >
-> On contouring round the hill to the south, the complex of buildings around Wood Winding Shaft can be found. Chief amongst these is the engine house and chimney. The obvious chimney near the road appears to have been associated with the ore dressing plant. The shaft is blocked a short distance down. A stream running through the engine house can be followed up past three adits to a small reservoir. Of the adits, the first on the south bank is blind, the second leads into a small stope, while the third is on the north bank and leads to a blockage, which corresponds to a blocked shaft on the surface. This may be Lawrence Whim Shaft and its associated Day Level, though it is not really clear from plans as there is another shaft on the south side of the valley only 20yds away, which also may be Lawrence Whim Shaft. Another blocked shaft near the one on the north side overlooks a second reservoir. - >
-> Returning to the south side of the valley, Cornish Shaft and California Shaft are located in the first field. Cornish Shaft is marked by a mound of earth, while California Shaft is a shallow water-filled depression. Under the holly tree at the corner of the field is another unnamed shaft on the California Vein. This has been descended for 75ft past a blockage of loose rocks and carcasses to a 'point where it became too dangerous. The collapsed portal of Upper Adit, which led into these workings, can be seen by the tramway on the hillside. California Shaft was worked by an engine in the next field, where the groove occupied by the flatrods is visible. This engine also worked Boundary Shaft, see Roman Gravels Mine. <21>
Photographed during aerial survey in 2010. <23>
Visited during a condition survey by the English Heritage Field Monument Warden, in 2000. Condition recorded as fair. <24>
A lead mine reputedly worked from Roman times up to the twentieth century. Large tips can be seen beside the road but most other features have been destroyed. On the hillside are several hushes, or eroded valleys, where lead is exposed, reputed to be of Roman origin. <25>
During working of the Roman Gravel Mine in the nineteenth century, Roman coins, tools (wooden shovels) and considerable traces of stepped opencast workings linked to underground galleries and shafts were found. The ‘find’ of a pig recorded at Roman Gravels is unlikely to be genuine; it occurred about the same time as the ‘Roman’ was added to the mines name and has the hallmark of a way of creating interest in the shares of the mine. At least three Roman lead pigs have been found in Shropshire, which are accepted as being of local lead, and there have been other pigs found out of the county, which could have been produced in Shropshire.
-> As part of the extraction process, ‘hushing’ was used to prospect and exploit the upper sections of veins. This involved using flowing water to expose veins and, perhaps, release and sort the ore by washing away waste. The process left a deep gully or ravine from which ore and gangue had been carried away; Roman Gravels is an example of this process. Water to serve hushes was collected via leats or gutters, often utilising rainwater sources, and captured by dams and in reservoirs, which frequently survive as earthworks close to the hush. <26>
Identified, and recorded on an IRIS form by Shropshire Caving and Mining Club. These workings are identified asRoman Gravels Mine, in operation from possibly Roman times up to the early 20th century (1929). The buried remains of a shaft, spoil heap and possioble Roman hush are identified, plus the intact remains of ore bins, adit and shaft together with the ruins of an engine house and crusher house; grid references are given for these features. <27>
Site assessment as part of the MPP project; several small opencuts on steep slope; engine house & bed at base of slope. Rare survival of open cuts. <28> - Record Type: Monument
- Sources:
(00) Card index: Shropshire County Council SMR. Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards. SMR record cards. SMR Card for PRN SA 01318. (01) Card index: Ordnance Survey. 1974. Ordnance Survey Record Card SO39NW5. Ordnance Survey record cards. SO39NW5. (01a) Article in serial: Watkin W T. 1879. Article in the Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society. Trans Shropshire Archaeol Hist Soc. Ser 1, Vol II (=Vol 2). p317-363. p350. (01b) Volume: Victoria County History. 1908. Victoria County History 1. Victoria County History of Shropshire. Vol 1. p263-264, p417. (01c) Article in serial: Whittick G C. 1931/ 1932. Article in the Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society. Trans Shropshire Archaeol Hist Soc. Vol 46. p131-135. (02) Monograph: Brook F & Albutt M. 1973. The South Shropshire Lead Mines. p32-43; photo p36.. (03) Monograph: Davies T J. The Engine Houses of the Mines of South Shropshire. p93-105. (04) TEXT: Jones D M. 1978. Draft Report on South Shropshire Area. (05) Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-03. CPAT 92/MB/0330 to 0333 (4 photos). Black and White. Medium. (06) Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-03. CPAT 92/MB/0336 to 0337 (2 photos). Black and White. Medium. (07) Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-03. CPAT 92/MB/0334 to 0335 (2 photos). Black and White. Medium. (08) Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-03. CPAT 92/MC06/0014. Colour. Medium. (09) Oblique aerial photograph: Musson Chris R. 1992-May-03. CPAT 92/C/0630 to 0631 (2 photos). Colour. 35mm. (10) Photograph: Anon. Section Drawing of Mine. Colour. (11) Field survey report: Wardell Armstrong Ltd. 1994. South Shropshire Lead Mines Study - Report on the Roman Gravels Mine Complex. Wardell Armstrong Rep. (12) TEXT: Horton Wendy B. 1990/ 1991. MPP Evaluation File. (13) Field survey report: Woodside R & Milln Jeremy. 1995. The National Trust Archaeological Survey: The Long Mynd, Shropshire. National Trust Archaeological Survey. p18. (14) Scheduled Monument notification: English Heritage. 1999. Scheduling Papers (New Scheduling, 07/07/1999). 31752. (15) Archaeological fieldwork report: Wardell Armstrong Ltd. 1999. Roman Gravels Mine Complex: Site Investigation Study. Wardell Armstrong Rep. Vol 3. (16) Archaeological fieldwork report: Wardell Armstrong Ltd. 1999. Roman Gravels Mine Complex: Site Investigation Study. Wardell Armstrong Rep. Vol 2. (17) Archaeological fieldwork report: Wardell Armstrong Ltd. 1999. Roman Gravels Mine Complex: Site Investigation Study. Wardell Armstrong Rep. Vol 5. (18) Archaeological fieldwork report: Wardell Armstrong Ltd. 1999. Roman Gravels Mine Complex: Site Investigation Study. Wardell Armstrong Rep. Vol 1. (19) Database file: National Monuments Record (NMR). 1993/ 1994. Marches Uplands Mapping Project (MUMP) MORPH records (2006 version). Marches Uplands Survey. MU.320.13 Unit 1; MU.113.19 Unit 1; MU.113.23 Unit 1. (20) Online database: National Monuments Record (NMR). Pastscape. MONUMENT NO 107457. (21) Volume: Heathcote J S. 1979/ 1992. A Survey of the Metal Mines of South (West) Shropshire. Shropshire Caving and Mining Club Accounts. No 12. p32 & pp51-52; C12-C13 & C28-C29. (22) Monograph: Michael Shaw. 2009. The Lead, Copper & Barytes Mines of Shropshire. p143. (23) Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2010-Mar-7. SA1004_076 to SA1004_081 (6 photos) Flight: 10_SA_04. Colour. Digital. (24) Field survey report: Leigh Judith. 2001. Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the Shropshire Hills ESA: Brief Condition Survey. (25) Monograph: Pearce A (ed). 1995. Mining in Shropshire. Shropshire Caving and Mining Club. p86. (26) Monograph: Newman P. 2016. The Archaeology of the Mining and Quarrying in England: a research framework. National Association of Mining History Organisations. p21 & 152. (27) Record form: Shropshire Caving and Mining Club. 1994. IRIS form [AIA - Index Record for Industrial Sites]. IRIS Record Sheet. SA/SCMC/AJP3. (28) Record form: Anon. late 1990s?. MPP Site Assessments. MPP Step 4 evaluation form?. MPP Site Assessments, Lead Industry: Site Number 2. - Tags:
- Related Places:
- For more information contact: Shropshire Council HER
- Date Created: 29/03/1996
- Date Last Edited: 04/09/2019 15:45:59
