Lindsay’s 75th book could have a hidden silver lining
A HISTORIAN who has written some of the best-known books on Ashbourne’s past has published his latest book on the history of Staffordshire Moorlands villages and towns.
And Lindsey Porter’s 75th book includes a study into a possible existence of a silver ore mine in the area.
The findings are among a series of articles, which focus on areas such as Alton, Stanton and Thorswood, and it is the mining activity in these areas that raised Mr Porter’s suspicions.
He said: “Silver is often found in association with lead ore (galena).
“Even if the amount of silver is of insufficient commercial value, it needs to be removed from the lead ore as it makes the resultant lead metal brittle. Above Alton, in the Churnet Valley is the Ramblers Retreat tearoom, now a popular venue for many visitors to the valley. It was previously a lodge on the Earl of Shrewsbury’s road to Cheadle from his home, Alton Towers.
“Due to the number of trees in the area many visitors are blissfully unaware that next to the tearoom in Dimmingsdale is a lovely valley with several lakes.
“In 1742 Thomas Gilbert of Cotton Hall and others took a lease from the Earl of Shrewsbury for the Dimmingsdale Smelting mill.
“A water mill on the main lake (now a private dwelling) is shown on old maps as ‘lead mill,’ why would one erect a lead mill in such a secluded location? There are no lead mines in the vicinity. The nearest metal mills are at Thorswood, north of Stanton village and west of Ashbourne, however they are known as being zinc mines, so was this a cover?
“Silver, like gold is a mineral reserved to the Crown. Is there any significance in the main shaft being known as the King’s Shaft?
“Has a veil of secrecy masked the details of whether Thorswood mines actually yielded silver rich lead ore, smelted at Dimmingsdale, the whole operation being kept a closely guarded secret?”
● The new book, entitled South West Peak District: Reflections of a Bygone era, is priced at £14.99 and can be bought at The Bookstore at Brielow Bar, off the A515 Buxton road.