Gaunless Lead Mill AKA Smelt Mill & Chimney, Copley (Copley)
Landscape view of Smelt Mill Chimney, Copley © DCC 2000
Smelt Mill Chimney 2000
Smelt Mill Chimney 2000
Smelt Mill Chimney 2000
This is the chimney of the nearby smelt mill. It was constructed to disperse the poisonous fumes from the smelting of the Lead ore Galena. Little now remains of the conducting flue up the hillside. The chimney is now a Listed Building and is sandstone with ashlar dressings. It was built, with the nearby smelt mill, for the third Earl of Darlington and will have operated from about 1790 to about 1880 (though this also includes the operation of the establishment under the London Lead Company). (1)
Smelt mill to the North of the River Gaunless, totally destroyed to ground level. Remains of enclosure wall, gate lodge, and two groups of cottages survive. A flue system South of the river survives in part as an earthwork. Intact chimney, and two dams North-West of the chimney. Depicted on 1861 OS 1st edition 6" map. Demolished by 1980. (4)
D37893
Desk Based Assessment of the industrial archaeology of the North Pennines, 1993-1994; Newcastle City Archaeology Unit
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