Rookhope Old Smelt Mill, Rookhope, County Durham: results of the 1995 survey
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Abstract
Rookhope Old Smelt Mill (Scheduled Ancient Monument No 29010) was abandoned some time after the construction of Rookhope Smelt Mill 1km to the E by the Blackett company between 1730 and 1740. In 1995, the authors carried out a survey of the site and were able to confirm its use for smelting lead ores. There were one and possibly two smelting mills on the site together with evidence of
slag crushing and ore dressing operations. There is a system of leats to supply water to the various operations. The site is overlain to the W by the dam of the newer Rookhope Smelt Mill and the shafts and outlet from the Tailrace Level to the E. In August 1999, the Environment Agency commenced work to build a lagoon to intercept silt carried by water overflowing from the nearby Fraser’s Grove mine further up the valley. This work has destroyed much of the old smelt mill site.
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