White Coppice Lead Mine

A blocked adit to an old lead mine at the back of the quarry above White Coppice. I’m not sure if this is a trial or if it was worked but the old entrance here would indicate the presence of a mineral vein exposed in the quarry. The miners would have opened a small trial tunnel here to see if the vein developed into a workable quantity.

The mines here are referred to as lead mines, however there may have been quantities of the associated mineral Witherite which was discovered nearby. Witherite has a variety of quite diverse uses.

The mine entrance here is currently blocked with mortared stone but it was open some years ago. Water builds up behind the stonework and pushes the mortar out. A small hole has been drilled at the bottom to alleviate this. I’m not sure why this particular tunnel is blocked, maybe as it’s close to a popular hiking route. Hopefully it’s more extensive than the others, I’ve personally only been inside a few feet when I was a kid.

According to Lancashire RIGS Group there is lead ore still within the mine here.