Flushiemere Barytes Mine

Overview

A Teesdale mine of relatively long levels and shafts on the Flushiemere Great, B and C veins and the two Ryland veins, east of the Pike Law hushes above Newbiggin. What makes it unusual for this corner of the orefield is barytes: considerable quantities were present in the Flushiemere C and Ryland veins, in ground whose neighbours were worked for lead. The London Lead Company drove the horse level that gives the mine its mapped position, and an exploratory level from Blea Gill that came to little.

History

The mine lies east of Flushiemere Beck, which bounds the Pike Law mine site on that side, in ground between the base of the Great Limestone and the Firestone that Dunham described as traversed by a remarkable complex of veins. Flushiemere's workings were relatively long levels with associated shafts, on the Flushiemere Great, B and C veins and on Ryland Veins Nos. 1 and 2. The London Lead Company drove the horse level here, and also an exploratory level from Blea Gill which proved some small flats off the Great Vein within the Great Limestone, though little work was done on them. The mineralisation is unusual for the immediate area in that considerable quantities of barytes were present in the Flushiemere C and Ryland veins. A powder house with a concrete roof stands east of Leonard's Hush on the Pike Law side, and may be associated with these later workings east of the beck.

Geology

The veins run in the ground between the base of the Great Limestone and the Firestone, which Dunham described as traversed by a remarkable complex of veins. The mine worked its own Great, B and C veins and the two Ryland veins. Unusually for the immediate area, considerable quantities of barytes were present in the Flushiemere C and the Ryland veins; the exploratory level driven from Blea Gill proved some small flats off the Great Vein within the Great Limestone.

Geological setting: Veins and Lodes (well documented example)

Workings

Relatively long levels with associated shafts on five veins. The London Lead Company's horse level is the mine's mapped position at NY 910 310; the company also drove an exploratory level from Blea Gill at NY 915 303, which found small flats off the Great Vein in the Great Limestone but was little worked.

Closure

No opening or closing date is recorded for the mine. The London Lead Company, which drove its horse level, held ground at Pike Law next door as lessee.

What remains

The entrance to the horse level survives and is photographed; the mine stands on open fell above the valley of Flushiemere Beck, with the ruin of Flushiemere House on the track below.

The entrance to the London Lead Company's horse level.

Redevelopment

None; the ground is open fell above Newbiggin.

Related mines

• Pike Law Mine — The two lie either side of Flushiemere Beck in one complex of veins, and the London Lead Company worked both — driving Flushiemere's horse level and holding Pike Law as lessee. A powder house on the Pike Law side may have served the workings east of the beck.

Nearby mines

• Pike Law Mine — 0.8 km NW
• Coldberry Mine — 3.8 km SE
• Force Garth Quarry — 4.6 km SW
• Lodge Syke Mine — 4.6 km E
• West Rigg Opencast — 6.2 km N

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

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• A powder house with a concrete roof stands east of Leonard's Hush at Pike Law, possibly associated with the later workings east of Flushiemere Beck. (uncertain) ²

Recorded claims

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

• Relatively long levels and associated shafts worked the Flushiemere Great, B and C veins and Ryland Veins Nos. 1 and 2. ¹
• The London Lead Company's horse level, at NY 910 310, is the mine's mapped position. ¹
• The company drove an exploratory level from Blea Gill at NY 915 303, which proved some small flats off the Great Vein in the Great Limestone but was little worked. ¹
• Considerable quantities of barytes were present in the Flushiemere C and Ryland veins, which is unusual for the immediate area. ¹
• Flushiemere Beck bounds the Pike Law mine site on its eastern side, in ground between the base of the Great Limestone and the Firestone described as traversed by a remarkable complex of veins. ²
• A powder house with a concrete roof stands east of Leonard's Hush at Pike Law, possibly associated with the later workings east of Flushiemere Beck. (uncertain) ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Flushiemere Mine (Flushamere Mine), Newbiggin, County Durham — Mindat (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy)
2. (secondary) Geology of the Pike Law area (Colin Fowler) — North Pennines National Landscape

Record created: 23 September 2026 · Last researched: 24 September 2026