Introduction

Located to the north west of the the village of Nenthead is the extensive Brownly Hill lead mine. Worked intermittently from at least the early 1700's right up until 1936, Brownley Hill mine is note worthy for being one of the few mines in the Nenthead area to have not been fully developed by the London Lead Co., The Brownley Hill vein was explored by the London Lead Co., in the early 1700's with rich deposits of lead worked in the higher beds, despite the early success of the workings the ground was abandoned at some point prior to the 1730's due too the vein becoming poor at a shallow depth and there being a significant amount of water to contend with.

From 1748, the mine passed through number of different owners mainly local companies and partnerships, with the various different veins at Brownley Hill being opened and worked at depth. This included the driving of the Brownley Hill low level, also known as the Bloomsberry Horse level. This level allowed access to the veins in the Great Limestone which is the single most productive bed for lead deposits in the area. A significant amount of lead has been produced from the mine, and from 1816 onwards the large and so far untouched zinc deposits started to become an important resource for the mining companies.

From 1892 the mine was owned and operated by the Nenthead and Tynedale Lead and Zinc Co., and following the acquisition of that companies assets the mine was worked intermittently by the Vielle Montagne Zinc Co., with the final abandonment coming in 1936. By the time the mine was abandoned the at least 13 different veins had been worked along with the large and extensive flats often associated with these. The mine also connects through to other mines in the area with connections through to the Rampgill mine and Nentsberry Haggs mine as well as the famous Gudhamgill mine.

Collector's Guide

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Notable Finds

Fluorite is not a common mineral to find in the mine, the one notable exception for is found in the Jug vein. Here amber yellow Fluorites have been found often associated with bight Galena crystals or Calcites. The Fluorites can often form very sharp edged and glassy crystals which are rather pleasing to see. Twinning does not seem to be common but the Fluorites can sometimes form complex crystals with stepped faces, not to dissimilar to the those found in some mines such as the Blackdene mine of Weardale.

Collecting History

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