Although earlier lead mining is known in the Ramshaw valley, possibly by agents of the Duke of Buckingham in the 17th century and by the London Lead Company in the 18th century, the visible remains all relate to the 19th century mining of the valley by the Derwent Lead Mining Company. The Company appointed John Taylor, one of the most accomplished mining engineers of his day to develop and run the mines. He introduced both technology and miners from Cornwall. One notable innovation was the extensive use of water power through dams and wheels which used iron flatrods to power pumps and machinery. The site contains many notable examples of lead mining technology, of especial note are the serpentine flue system from Jeffery's Smelt Mill, and the use of water power already noted above. Lead extraction declined markedly in the late 19th century but the White Heaps mine continued producing fluorspar until the 1980s. Large areas of the site were protected as Scheduled Monuments in August 1997. (1)

The ruins, earthworks and other remains of the core areas of the Derwent lead mines. The monument, falling within five areas, lies on the east side of the Bolts Burn, between 2 kilometres and 3.5 kilometres south of Blanchland. The early history of the Derwent mines, known collectively since they were worked as a single enterprise for most of their history, is little known. A 21 year grant was made in 1624 to the Duke of Buckingham for all silver and lead within 10 miles of Muggleswick, including the Derwent mines. The mines were worked by the London Lead Company in the 18th century, though the majority of the visible remains relate to the Derwent Lead Mining Company in the 19th century. This company appointed John Taylor, considered to be the most accomplished mining engineer of the 19th century, to manage the mines and he introduced Cornish miners and their techniques to the mining operations. He built an extensive water management system based around the Sikehead Dams and an extensive system of flatrods, powered by large waterwheels on the valley floor; this system is one of the most complex known to survive on any related mining site in England. The extraction of lead declined after the late 19th century, though fluorspar extraction continued intermittently until the 1980s. Please see the four individual child records for a more detailed account of the remains of the Derwent lead mines. (3)