MineArchiveMines in County Down
County Down's Conlig and Whitespots mines together formed the largest lead-mining complex in Ireland, yielding an estimated 13,500 tonnes of lead — around a third of the country's entire output — between 1780 and 1899. Unusually, the mines were not closed by exhaustion but bought out by a descendant of the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, reportedly because he disliked having heavy industry so close to his home.
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| Mine | Worked | Commodities |
|---|---|---|
| Conlig and Whitespots Lead Mines | 1780–1910 | Lead |
| Newry Granite Quarries | from From 1840s | Granite |
| Scrabo Quarries | Anglo-Norman period–20th century | Sandstone |