Coalpithole Mine

The Peak Forest Mining Company, operated Coalpithole Mine extracting lead ore from 1858 to 1880. The No.10 shaft is under the grille in the right foreground. It is brick lined and around 618 feet deep, sunk through the shale to reach the ore bearing limestone at depth. No.8 shaft is in the trees beyond the pool and the line of the vein on Coalpithole Rake can be seen covered in trees as it runs across the shoulder of the hill. Mining here petered out in 1880 having seen a massive fall in productivity after water ingress overwhelmed the pumps in the mid 1870s.

This panorama shows the blind valley running east from Sparrowpit towards Winnats Head. Rushup Edge is on the left whilst the abandoned Eldon Hill limestone quarry is to the right. Water here drains through the shales and into sink holes in the limestone on the right side of the valley from where it eventually finds its way underground towards Castleton.