Gentlewoman's Pipe

Overview

Gentlewoman's Pipe, near Matlock Bridge, is one of three lead workings linked underground with Masson Sough, which leads to the longest accessible coffin-level sough in the Derbyshire orefield.

History

Gentlewoman's Pipe is listed among the lead mines of the Matlocks working in the early 19th century, in Benjamin Bryan's extracts from Farey's survey of Derbyshire, simply as a mine 'near Matlock Bridge'. The Derbyshire Historic Environment Record links it underground with two other workings, Masson Sough and Old Jants Lead Mine: Masson Sough is a level leading to the longest accessible coffin-level sough in the orefield and on into extensive pipe workings. The combined site preserves shafts to the surface, fine examples of hand-pick work including decorative 'garlands', various miners' inscriptions, a wooden hotching trough (used to wash and grade crushed ore) and other miners' tools.

Geology

Lead-bearing coffin-level sough and pipe workings in the Matlock orefield.

Workings

A pipe worked in conjunction with Masson Sough, the longest accessible coffin-level sough in the orefield, and Old Jants Lead Mine.

Closure

No closure date was found.

What remains

The workings reached through Masson Sough preserve hand-pick work, miners' inscriptions and tools, and shafts survive to the surface along the line of the pipe.

Shafts to the surface survive along the line of the workings; underground, a wooden hotching trough and miners' tools are preserved.

Nearby mines

• Longtor Mines — 0.8 km S
• Masson Hill Mine — 0.8 km SW
• Cawdor Quarry — 1.0 km NW
• Dimple Mine — 1.0 km N
• Bonsall Leys Mines — 1.2 km SE

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.

• Gentlewoman's Pipe, near Matlock Bridge, is listed among the Matlocks' lead mines working in the early 19th century. ¹
• Gentlewoman's Pipe is linked underground with Masson Sough, a level leading to the longest accessible coffin-level sough in the orefield, and with Old Jants Lead Mine. ²
• The combined Masson Sough workings preserve shafts to the surface, fine pick-work including garlands, miners' inscriptions, a wooden hotching trough and miners' tools. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Matlock and Matlock Bath : Lead Mining in Matlock and Matlock Bath — Andrews Genealogy (Matlock & Matlock Bath history)
2. (primary) Derbyshire HER: Masson Sough, Old Jants Lead Mine and Gentlewoman's Pipe (MDR14024) — Derbyshire Historic Environment Record

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