Cumberland Mine

Overview

Cumberland Mine, on the hillside above Matlock Bath, was opened as a show cave in 1780 and, after a royal visit, became known as the Royal Cumberland Cavern; it connects underground to the neighbouring Wapping Mine, the two forming opposite ends of one ore deposit.

History

Cumberland Mine -- now generally known by its show-cave name, Cumberland Cavern -- is an old lead working most likely developed at the same period as the neighbouring Wapping Mine, whose workings it lies some 12 metres above and connects to via two links, the Funnel Cave and the Devils Pit. A great deal of Cumberland's underground space appears to be natural chambers rather than worked ground, reinforced by the small number of shot holes found in it, and the mine looks to have been worked only once before being opened to the public as a show cave in 1780. Queen Victoria visited the show cave, after which it became known as the Royal Cumberland Cavern, though that fuller name is not usually used. Per the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record, it was open as a show cave for over a century from 1780, with entrances (now both blocked, along with Wapping's) at two points on the hillside; Great British Life's account of Derbyshire's mining minerals adds that the combined underground passages of Cumberland and Wapping extend for 460 metres. After the show cave closed, in the late 1960s or early 1970s, a gang known as the 'Troggs' occupied it, leaving large amounts of graffiti in some of its chambers.

Geology

Largely natural caverns and passages within the same ore-bearing ground as Wapping Mine, where Toadstone (basalt) meets dolomitised limestone.

Workings

A mine worked once, then developed as a show cave from 1780; connects underground to Wapping Mine via the Funnel Cave and the Devils Pit.

Closure

Closed as a show cave in the late 1960s or early 1970s, after which its entrance was blocked; occupied for a period afterwards by a graffiti-leaving gang known as the 'Troggs'.

What remains

Both the Cumberland and Wapping entrances are now blocked; the cavern is reached today via Wapping Mine's own adit and the two connecting passages.

No surface structure survives from the show-cave period; the site is accessible only underground, via Wapping Mine.

Related mines

• Wapping Mine — Physically connected underground via the Funnel Cave and the Devils Pit; the Mine Explorer Society and Great British Life both describe the two as opposite ends of one complex ore deposit.

Nearby mines

• Wapping Mine — 0.3 km SE
• Snake Mine — 0.5 km NW
• Masson Hill Mine — 0.9 km N
• Dovegang Mine — 1.0 km SE
• Longtor Mines — 1.1 km NE

Straight-line distance, within 15 km. Show on the map.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Cumberland Cavern was open as a show cave for over 100 years, first open to visitors in 1780; both the Cumberland and Wapping entrances are now blocked. ¹
• Cumberland Cavern, whose original name is Cumberland Mine, is an old working most likely developed at the same time as Wapping Mine; it was opened as a show cave in 1780, and after Queen Victoria's visit became known as the Royal Cumberland Cavern. ²
• Cumberland Cavern opened in 1780 as a show cave and is about 12 metres higher up the hill than Wapping Mine; the combined underground passages of the two extend for 460 metres. ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Derbyshire HER: Cumberland Cavern, Upperwood, Matlock Bath (MDR9949) — Derbyshire Historic Environment Record
2. (secondary) Wapping Mine and Cumberland Cavern — The Mine Explorer Society
3. (secondary) Exploring the mines and minerals of Derbyshire — Great British Life (Roy Starkey)

Record created: 16 September 2026 · Last researched: 16 September 2026