A very old and dear friend has come up to visit. Spent the day looking around the Saxon crypt in the Abbey (got a very good tour by someone who ‘helps out’ in there).

Spent the rest of the day just north of Stanhope exploring the old lead mines and quarries.

Now that must have been extremely hard work. Lead mining was an important industry in the 17th and 18th century. This was predominantly manual labour, followed by long walks across the moors and back each day. An occupational hazard must have been the health risks of working with lead itself. Across the moors there are chimneys and long flues where attempts were made to separate the fumes from the workers in the furnaces.

Next time we’re taking hard hats and torches…