Explore the well-worn tracks leading to the mines
The stone-arched gateways to the shafts
The ruined smelt mills and the tips,
Remnants from a bygone time
Say a little thank you to the men who built and trod these paths
For their lives were often short and their work was hard
Imagine you can hear them sing as they wind on through the hills
And hear their clogs against the stones echo down the gylls
Look down, now the only sound the water as it rushes
Look up to the heather moor and the hillside hushes
Mini squadrons of cackling grouse fly off everywhere
Where once the lead was teased from underground
Now it's fired into the air
Sep 13, 2013
Sep 13, 2013 at 3:08 PM UTC
Explore the well-worn tracks leading to the mines
The stone-arched gateways to the shafts
The ruined smelt mills and the tips,
Remnants from a bygone time
Say a little thank you to the men who built and trod these paths
For their lives were often short and their work was hard
Imagine you can hear them sing as they wind on through the hills
And hear their clogs against the stones echo down the gylls
Look down, now the only sound the water as it rushes
Look up to the heather moor and the hillside hushes
Mini squadrons of cackling grouse fly off everywhere
Where once the lead was teased from underground
Now it's fired into the air
Been to the fabulously beautiful Yorkshire Dales, stayed in an old miner's cottage.
Lead was mined from pre-historic times through to around 1865 when cheaper imports came in. Swaledale lead was used to roof cathedrals as far away as northern France. All over the hills are the remains and reminders of the mining. Now there is tourism, sheep rearing and on the moors, grouse shooting. A day's grouse shooting can cost £1000 and is big business here.
'Hushes' refers to the practice of damming a stream, then letting out the water in a rush, which washes away the soil to expose the underlying bedrock.
