Tarnhouse Colliery

Overview

The Earl of Carlisle's colliery on Tindale Fell, east of Brampton, where coal was bored for in 1628 and which was at work in 1769; its coal went down to Brampton by his wagonway, later the Brampton Railway.

History

Tarnhouse Colliery, also called Tindale Fell Colliery, lay on Tindale Fell in the north-east of Cumberland, east of Brampton. Boring for coal on Tindale Fell was in progress in 1628, and in 1769 the Earl of Carlisle was working Tarnhouse or Tindale Fell colliery, beside the Talkin and Midgeholme collieries.

Its coal went to Brampton. One account has a railway five and a half miles long made in 1775 from the Earl of Carlisle's colliery at Tindale Fell to Brampton, and an early experiment with wrought-iron rails there about 1808; another holds that only short wooden wagonways were in use on Tindale Fell by 1775 and that the through line to the staithes at Brampton was built about 1798, the first wagon of coal from Tindale Fell colliery coming down it in April 1799. The line was later known as the Brampton Railway.

Its plans show workings in the Limestone coal, and Tarnhouse appears on the general plans of the Midgeholme, Talkin and neighbouring collieries.

Geology

The Limestone coal.

Workings

Workings on Tindale Fell, connected to Brampton by wagonway, later the Brampton Railway.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Midgeholme Colliery — The Earl of Carlisle's fell collieries, worked side by side in 1769 and shown on one general plan.
• Talkin Colliery — The Earl of Carlisle's neighbouring fell collieries, worked together in 1769 and shown on one general plan.

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 railway of five and a half miles was made in 1775 from the Earl of Carlisle's colliery at Tindale Fell to Brampton. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• Boring for coal on Tindale Fell was in progress in 1628. ¹
• In 1769 the Earl of Carlisle was working Tarnhouse or Tindale Fell colliery. ¹
• A railway of five and a half miles was made in 1775 from the Earl of Carlisle's colliery at Tindale Fell to Brampton. (disputed) ¹
• The through line to Brampton was built about 1798, and the first wagon of coal from Tindale Fell colliery came down it in April 1799. ¹
• Tarnhouse plans record workings in the Limestone coal. ²
• Tarnhouse appears on the general plan of the Midgeholme, Talkin and neighbouring collieries. ^3,4

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Brampton Railway — Wikipedia
2. (primary) Tarnhouse Mine Plans (Mining Remediation Authority plan NC680, Limestone coal) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority
3. (primary) Midgeholme, Tarnhouse, Talkin, Geltsdale, Hartleyburn and other collieries: general plan and section (Mining Remediation Authority plan NC143) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority
4. (primary) Blacksike, Tarnhouse, Fox, George, Hazard and other Mine Plans (Mining Remediation Authority plan NC144) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 9 October 2026 · Last researched: 9 October 2026