Wapping Mine

Overview

Wapping Mine, on the hillside above Matlock Bath, worked lead from the 1750s and was twice reworked for fluorspar in the 20th century; it connects underground to the neighbouring Cumberland Cavern, the two forming opposite ends of one ore deposit.

History

A George II shilling found during later reworking suggests Wapping Mine, an old shaft and adit working on the Moletrap Rake, was already being worked in the 1750s, when the earliest activity was probably limited to a few short ore strings of galena from the Moletrap Vein. From 1924 the mine was reworked for fluorspar, chiefly on the Moletrap Vein and in a confusing warren of passages and pockets at its north-west end known as the Maze, though the Maze did not in the end yield much fluorspar. Little further activity is recorded after 1936 until 1953, when Frank Barton of Banks and Barton took the mine on and worked it relatively intensively for around three years; an opencast section was begun at the adit during this period, advancing westward along the rake, until a collapse in 1954 brought down the front end of the mine. An Incline Level, driven south-west of the main adit in an attempt to cross the vein from the main stope working, proved unfruitful. Wapping Mine is the most accessible mine in the immediate area and, per a County Treasure Recording Form held by the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record, shows the close relationship of the local Toadstone (a local name for basalt) and dolomitised limestone with the mineralisation. The workings connect underground to Cumberland Cavern (see that record), some 12 metres higher up the hillside, via two links -- the Funnel Cave at the end of Wapping's Forth Stope, and the Devils Pit, which leads into the Maze -- the two mines together forming opposite ends of one complex ore deposit. Both sites lie within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Geology

Worked galena on the Moletrap Vein, in country where local Toadstone (basalt) meets dolomitised limestone; reworked in the 20th century for fluorspar rather than lead.

Workings

An adit and shaft working on the Moletrap Rake, with a warren of fluorspar workings (the Maze) at its north-west end and an unsuccessful Incline Level driven south-west; connects underground to Cumberland Cavern.

Closure

A 1954 collapse brought down the front end of the mine during its last intensive working (1953-56, Frank Barton of Banks and Barton); no further working is recorded.

What remains

An accessible adit entrance, reached via a hole in a wall; land-access disputes with the owner over vandalism have been reported, and visiting parties are advised to check current access with local mining groups.

The adit entrance and evidence of the 1953-54 opencast working at the rake survive; the site is regularly visited and photographed by underground explorers.

Related mines

• Cumberland 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

• Cumberland Mine — 0.3 km NW
• Dovegang Mine — 0.7 km SE
• Snake Mine — 0.7 km NW
• Longtor Mines — 1.2 km N
• Masson Hill Mine — 1.2 km N

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.

• A George II shilling found during reworking suggests Wapping Mine, on the Moletrap Rake, was being worked in the 1750s, initially for galena from the Moletrap Vein. ¹
• From 1924 the mine was reworked for fluorspar on the Moletrap Vein and in the Maze; after 1936 there was little activity until Frank Barton (Banks and Barton) worked it intensively from 1953, until a 1954 collapse brought down the front of the mine. ¹
• Wapping Mine has an impressive entrance and a complex of large vein and pipe workings, and shows the close relationship of the Toadstone and dolomitised limestone with the mineralisation. ²
• Wapping Mine and Cumberland Cavern lie beneath the hillside above the New Bath Hotel; Cumberland Cavern is about 12 metres higher up the hill, and the underground passages of the combined workings extend for 460 metres. ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Wapping Mine and Cumberland Cavern — The Mine Explorer Society
2. (primary) Derbyshire HER: Wapping Mine (approximate entrance), Matlock Bath (MDR9941) — Derbyshire Historic Environment Record
3. (secondary) Exploring the mines and minerals of Derbyshire — Great British Life (Roy Starkey)

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