Guy Mine

Overview

Guy Mine, at Alport, was worked by the Alport Mining Company with one of five hydraulic pumping engines built for the company; both its engines were sold at auction in 1852, the year the main shaft ran in.

History

Following the creation of the Alport Mining Company in 1839 by John Taylor, a tunnel was driven to feed water to a new hydraulic engine at Guy Shaft; the tunnel, arched at its entrance and now collapsed a short way in, was built in 1841. Water for the engine was brought from the River Lathkill in pipes, carried on a wooden aqueduct over Alport village and along the tunnel to Guy Shaft, giving a downfall column of 132 feet in 40-inch pipes to the hydraulic engine 210 feet below the surface. Estimates for the Guy engine were received in 1841, and a small hydraulic engine from the Milton Iron Works, with an 18-inch cylinder and a 7-foot stroke, was erected in the shaft the same year while preparations were made for a larger engine; a new 50-inch cylinder engine was reported working from 15 April 1842. Both engines were sold at auction in 1852: the smaller for £81, to a Mr Price, and the larger, minus its plunger, to J. Johnson Esq. of Allen Smeltmill, Haydon Bridge. During the sale, on the night of 14 December 1852, the shaft ran in while the plunger was still being raised, attached to the headstocks, according to Mr R. Bacon of Youlgreave; it was filled in and made safe by Joseph Johnson and Oldfield. The site of the shaft survives as a depression, part filled with water, later used as a washing area for fluorspar. Underground, the Guy Vein connects Guy Mine to the neighbouring Conqueror Mine, and Guy Shaft's own drainage fed into the Centre Level, itself driven from Hillcarr Sough to prevent water pumped from Guy flowing back into the Danger Mine and Broadmeadow workings.

Geology

Lead-bearing Guy Vein, connecting underground to the neighbouring Conqueror Mine.

Workings

A hydraulic-engine shaft fed by a river-water tunnel and aqueduct; one of the Alport Mining Company's five hydraulic engines.

Closure

Both the mine's hydraulic engines were sold at auction in 1852, the same year the main shaft ran in during the sale process; the site was later used as a fluorspar washing area.

What remains

The shaft site survives as a water-filled depression; the feeder tunnel entrance is arched, with a collapse not far inside.

A depression marking the collapsed shaft, and the arched entrance to the Guy Tunnel, survive on the surface.

Related mines

• Broadmeadow Lead Mine — Both worked by the Alport Mining Company; a drainage level fed both the Guy and Broadmeadow engine shafts.

Nearby mines

• Broadmeadow Lead Mine — 0.0 km W
• Prospect Lead Mine — 0.4 km S
• Wheels Rake Wheelhouse Shaft — 0.7 km NE
• Kirkmeadow Mine — 1.2 km E
• Alport Mines — 1.5 km NW

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.

• Following the creation of the Alport Mining Company in 1839 by John Taylor, a tunnel was driven and built by 1841 to feed water to the hydraulic Guy engine, bringing water from the River Lathkill via aqueduct and tunnel to give a 132ft downfall column to an engine 210ft below the surface. ¹
• A small hydraulic engine was erected at Guy Shaft in 1841 while a larger, 50-inch-cylinder engine was prepared, reported working from 15 April 1842; both were sold at auction in 1852, and the shaft ran in during the sale, on the night of 14 December 1852. ²
• Guy Vein runs between Guy Mine and Conqueror Mine, and Guy Shaft's drainage fed into Centre Level, driven from Hillcarr Sough to stop water pumped from Guy flowing back into the Danger Mine and Broadmeadow workings. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Derbyshire HER: Guy Tunnel Entrance, 127m south-east of Monks Hall, Alport (MDR3837) — Derbyshire Historic Environment Record
2. (secondary) Alport Mines and Soughs — Pegasus Caving Club

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