Lead was mined at Fallowfield from at least the 16th century. It is believed that the Romans used lead from here at Chesters fort and that medieval monks used it to roof Hexham Abbey. The mines were active in the 17th and 18th centuries until they were flooded in 1734. An engine was built in the 1760s to pump the water out and the mines once again became prosperous and extended to the east and west. Smelting also took place at Fallowfield from at least the late 17th century. In the early 19th century the fortunes of the mine began to decrease, but this decline was temporarily halted by the start of witherite and barytes mining in 1846. However, flooding eventually closed the mine in 1913. (1-4)

NY 93700 67400 Approximate site of a lead smelt mill built shortly before 1829 to serve the Fallowfield lead mines. (5) Recorded by NRIM. (5a)