No public access to the mine workings has been confirmed. Keep to established public routes if visiting the wider area; do not approach shafts, tunnels or unstable remains.
Read the information we checked ↗ · checked 2026-09-22
Use public paths and visitor areas. Do not enter unstaffed tunnels, shafts, railway land or restricted property.
Advice before you visitInformation checked 2026-09-22. We checked the official heritage record. No site visit or direct confirmation from a landowner or operator.
The story of this place
West Stonesdale mine opened around 1850 to reach a lead vein beside Startindale Gill. The venture had mixed results. Historic England says another cross-vein produced valuable ore between 1855 and 1860, but the vein the owners first sought was unproductive. The mine closed in 1860.
Its engine used water pressure to drive machinery for pumping and lifting. The same complex included a shaft, a tunnel on the opposite bank and terraces where ore was crushed and washed before smelting elsewhere.
- Historic England — West Stonesdale lead mine and ore works ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-22
What remains
The official record describes the engine-house walls around the shaft, a wheel pit, washing floors, waste tips and a lime kiln. It says parts of the engine-house front and upper floor had collapsed when surveyed. The tunnel entrance and connecting bridge were also recorded as collapsed.
This is a protected archaeological site with dangerous old workings, not an operating mine open for tours. We have not inspected it or confirmed a lawful viewing route.
- Historic England — West Stonesdale lead mine and ore works ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-22
What we still need to check
The listing records past collapse and surviving features but is not a current safety survey. Public access and present condition remain unconfirmed.
Sources for the visiting information
- Historic England — West Stonesdale lead mine and ore works ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-22
About the original record
This place is recorded by Historic England / Planning Data. The details below include the original description of its building or site type.
Place details
- Category
- Industrial relics
- Building or site type (original wording)
- West Stonesdale lead mine and ore works
- Period or date
- Around 1850–1860
- Current condition
- Not checked in person
- Heritage protection
- Scheduled monument
- Date protection was granted
- 1996-12-24
- Nearby town
- Richmond (approximate)
- County named in the original record
- Not supplied
- Current county or council area
- North Yorkshire
- Nation
- England
- Original record number
- 1015407
- Coordinates
- 54.427952, -2.177228 (reference point, not an entrance)
- Heritage data checked
- 2026-09-13
- Source last updated
- 2026-08-28
- Visitor information checked
- 2026-09-22
We checked the downloaded heritage record on 2026-09-13. We have not visited or inspected the site. The map point may refer to a whole site, one structure or a location where little remains.