Burgam - Shropshires Last Working Metal Mine, 1957-1963

Bulletin or the Peak District Mines llistorical Society. Volume 11, Number 2. Winter 1990.
BURGAM : SHROPSHIRE'S LAST WORKING METAL MINE
1957-1963
lvor J, Brown
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Abstract: During the 1950's there were still two "metal" mines intennillenUy active in the South-West Shropshire
metalliferous mining area, Lords Hill Mine, the last remnant of the great Snailbcach operation, and the Burgam M'me.
Underground operations ceased entirely at Lords Hill in 1955 but Burgam had a few more years yet. This is an ouUine
history of those years as noted by the writer, a regular visitor and occasional helper during that time.
Prior to the 1950's the following adits and shafts were
recorded on the properly (Abandonment Plan No. 3055): a
shaft on the opposite side of the road to the more recent
workings which bas its collar at about 100 feet above Boat
Level; Deep Level Adil commencing just west of this shaft,
a little below its collar. About 100 feet higher up the
hillside in the vicinity of the recent workings is No. 1 adit
which follows the main vein for 200 yards to the east.
About 150 feet higher up the bill above No. 1 Adil there is
a shallow shaft with short drivages referred to as Upper
Burgam. Dines stated that the normal width of the vein
was 2V. to 3 feet but in the cast end of No. l Adil • it was
split into two branches each about 6" wide". This splitting
of the vein bas been the cause of much optimism among
miners in the area as exemplified in the following
paragraph. There was also evidence of at least two other
shafts on site plus the roadside adit referred to previously.
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Burgam (sometimes Bcrgam, Burgham or Birgham) is a
small mine only 500 yards from its more illustrious
neighbour, Tankcrville Mine, although it does not appear to
have been directly connected to it. Burgam worked mainly
the Big Spar Vein and lies about halfway between Perkins
Beach Mine (with which it was orien associated) and
Roundhill Mine. Drainage of Burgam Mine was
accomplished by means of the Boat Level, some 30 yards
beneath iL This 18th century level bas its portal close by
but then, after passing Burgam, continues for nearly two
miles, draining amongst other mines, Tankerville,
Pcnncrley, The Bog and several small mines beyond this.
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Lead production at Burgam was first recorded in the 1860's
and although there were further allcmpts at mining no real
activity took place until the 1890's, 1893 seems to have been
a peak year when, under the Shropshire United Mining
Company, the mine produced about 20 tons lead ore, 429
tons barytes and 4 tons zinc ore. About 10 men were
employed during this time but from 1895 Lo 1901 the mine
is recorded as "standing". The mine is also l'IIOWD to have
produced several hundred tons of barytes during the 1920's
and 1930's. (Brown 1966; 1976). Mr. Hewill Jnr., of
Snailbeacb, a former Shropshire barytes miner, told the
writer in January 1990 that when be started work at the
mine in the 1920's, there were four or live miners there
working barytcs "for Mr Lewis". Most work was done at
Upper Burgam Mine and the ore was brought down the
hillside to the loading dock at the roadside by horse and
sleigh. (Mr. Hewitt's father died in 1974 aged 95 years, the
last surviving true Shropshire lead miner).
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An anonymous report entitled "A short history of Perkins
Beach Mine·, dated 1898 bas recenUy been located
(Shropshire R.0. Ref. 44743/45). At this time Perkins
Beach and Burgam were being worked together and the
two principal veins were known as Big Spar and Cross
Veins. "The Big Spar Vein is regarded as a champion both
in size and character yet, strange to say, comparatively
speaking, litUe or nothing has been done to explore this line
lode cxrept an amount of surface work from which great
quantities of sulphate of barytcs have been taken". It
continues •At a little mine called Birgham, unwatered by
the Boat Level --- the opinion of miners is that the Spar
Vein divides itself into two branches, the south portion
going to Tankcrville and making that extraordinary run of
ore in this mine, out of which so many handsome fortunes
were made. The north part of the Big Spar Vein no doubt
passes through Round Hill". This optimistic belief
surrounding Burgham has led to several trials this century
including that of the 1950's.
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Dines (1958) studied the mine during the 1950's (although
he did not mention any working that was going on there at
the time) and recorded his results in a Bulletin of the
Geological Survey. He stated that. as well as the Big Spar
Vein, two other veins were worked, one a lead vein
"coursing a few degrees south of east•, the other about 90
yards north of Big Spar Vein which was worked from an
old adit near the road (west of the 1950 operations). Big
Spar vein was mainly barytcs and was described by Dines as
"gr ey coloured, containing occasional strings of galena up to
1 inch wide". There was also "much mineral pitch" but
doubts have been cast on the ·copper stains" to which be
also referred. Members of the Shropshire Mining Club
identified the green mineral as pyromorphite (green lead
ore) in the early 1960's and this was substantiated by
Sarjeant in 1967. The mine must also contain zinc ores,
since these have been produced, but none have been
recognised by the writer and Dines did not refer to any.
ln June 1957 Messrs D. Lehmann, G. Evans and R.
Hasyard of Upper House Farm, Minsterley, applied for
planning permission "for the winning of minerals (barytcs),
Old Burgham Mine, Snailbeach" and in September 1957 this
was granted. Three conditions were attached as follows;
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The method of disposal of any spoil being carried out
in a manner approved by the Local Plarming Authority.
2.
Any plant or structures to be erected shall be the
subject of a separate application for permission to develop.
The formation of a satisfactory accessway to the site
3.
which shall be constructed at the developer's expense to
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Entrance to
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BURGAM MINE
SHROPSHIRE
Adlt& Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
A Loading Bay
C Hollybush
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B Cabin
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Sketch based on O.R.Adams
Bull. PDMHS, vol;2, no,3 May 1964,
(1990)
with additions by lvor Brown 1990
100 yards
roadside adit. There is also a note whlch states that
working is proposed "principally in ·level marked A, minor
operations al B and c·.
the reasonable satisfaction of the J...ocal Planning Authority.
The plan accompanying the application shows, on a 1:2500
base, the addition of a loading bay and a cabin and three
marks A,B, and C. A is in the vicinity of No.1 Adit, an old
level. B is between A and the cabin and C is near the old
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It would appear that some working was already undcrway.
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Stamping Co. Ltd., Park Lane, Wolverhampton.
mineral being worked is given as "Lead".
At this time the mine was stiU being worked by Mr. Tom
Rawson, the "boss" and Norman Evans, his "partner".
There was a steady stream of visitors, newspaper reporters,
writers like Constance Manders, a "Government fcUow
muckin about with a Geiger counter", geologists, student
mining engineers (like the writer) and cavers.
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The writer visi1cd the site in August 1957; an old timber
loading bay was positioned alongside ihe road and there
was some evidence of recent digging on the site. This was
borne out by comments attributed to Tom Rawson, who
later operated the mine under ihe above permission, in an
interview published in the Manchester Guardian (7 March
1959). It stated "Por the past six years they (Mr. Rawson
and his partner) have tunnelled over 120yds into the
Stiperstoncs Hills looking for lead. In all ihal time they
have mined only 7 cwt, worth approximately £470 in its raw
state". This was certainly no bonanza but all miners live in
hope. This work was probably limited lo No. 1 Adil and
occasional work at Perkins Beach Mine but if the report is
correct work must have recommenced about 1953.
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Tom Rawson at work underground in 1959.
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From 1959 the writer began to lake notes on the activities
at the mine during his regular visits. These visits usually
look place in the daytime when the writer was on late
afternoon or night shift al Madeley Wood Colliery. There
are not many who can slate, as he can, that they frequcnlly
did a shift at a working metal mine followed by a shift at a
coal mine, or vice versa when working nights at the
colliery!.
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Prom 1957 to 1959 work concentrated on one level and the
Guardian's "Special Correspondent" described a visit to this.
"The tunnel poked for 90 yards in10 the hillside and then
did a smart right turn for 10 yards before stopping. This,
said Mr Rawson, was where they had rediscovered the lead
seam. He pointed to the thin grey vein ••·••·", "It's a very
thin seam. Sometimes six inches thick, sometimes three
inches. We tunnels in, linds her, and then loses her. When
we loses her we just chases her again". The only equipment
indicated in the article was the cabin ·a wooden hut with a
crooked chimney", a band-drill, a pick, a shovel and a
wheelbarrow. Olndles were used for illumination. The ore
was wheeled outside, tipped into a heap and when there
was sufficient reloaded into the wheelbarrow and run on to
the waiting lorry at the roadside loading bay. Mr. Rawson
told the reporter he did nol know where the lorry went but
it could have gone "to Birmingham, perhaps , or to
Wolverhampton where ll1e gaffer lives·. It is surprising that
nowhere in the Guardian article is there any reference to
extra cl ion of barytcs for which the planning permission had
been granted.
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In 1959 work shifted from No. 1 Adil to the neighbouring
ground. A prospecting trench was made about 4 feet deep
and 12 feet long in ihe direction of the cabin. The trench
was in soft weathered scree-like material with large lumps
of barytes, many containing strings of galena. From 1960
work concentrated on the other trial adits.
Adit
construction methods were primitive and a typical
description is as follows. lo early 1%0 No. 2 Adil was
commenced about 10 yards from No.I pointing towards it
at about 45°. It was obvious that this was beading straight
into No. l and after about 3 yards it was abandoned, turned
90 degrees and by 4 Sept 1960 wa.5 3 yards in from the old
entrance but in the new direction.
The equipment in 1960 was 1he same a., that described in
the Guardian report, boring by hand as necessary (the
explosives boxes were kept in the left band beading in No.
1 Adit) , shovelling into the wheelbarrow by hand and
wheeling out to tip or stockpile. The roof was supported by
locally-cut limber, a setting con.\i.Sting of two props and a
bar. This was not notched but nailed in place, a real reci pe
In the late 1950's the mine lease was taken by Mr. J.L.
Burden of Wolverhampton. His addres.\ is given in the
oflicial mine list as Jacklield Mines Ltd, c/o Star Metal
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IJB on haulage work at No. 2 Adil in 1960.
for a future disaster. Progress was nol rapid. The tunnel
was generally 5 feet high, 4 feel wide with limber seltiogs
at about 4 feet centres. In early October 1960 il had
reached 6 yards with 6 settings, by mid November 9 yards
(8 seltings) and by mid-February 1961, 12 yards (10
seltings). Work then ceased in this tunnel and collapse
followed shortly after as the nails rusted.
few areas of "safe" underground access in the Shropshire
metalliferous mining area. Much deterioration and collapse
has occurred especially in No. 2 adit, where nails bad been
used underground.
The most recent account of
underground exploration was by the Shropshire Mining
dub (1979 p C52).
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Mine cabin at Burgam Mine (1960)
At the time of the Shropshire Mining Club's Survey of the
Metalliferous Mines, in 1962 (lst edit), the access position
was basically as follows, although some later information
has been added to this from personal experience of the
writer.
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In November 1960 Constance Manders wrole of her visit lo
the mine. She found Tom Rawson in "the new excavation"
alongside No. 1 adit. After collecting candles from the
cabin he took her into No.I Adit where in her romantic
style she describes how "every so often our candles caught
a glitter of lead and silver in barytes". (Silver??). She
described how lighted candles were left as they advanced
until "a heap of tumbled rock barred our path". It was a
recent fall so they "abruptly about turned and retraced our
steps, guided by the bravely burning candles which Tom
snuffed and collected one by one".
Upper Burgam: adit open, leading to slopes, accessible
also by ladder (60 ft.) from the surface - about 200 yards
(Adit seen to be gated in 1990, alongside are the remains
of the stone-built mine buildings).
Upper Burgam: shaft open for about 20 feet (same in
1990).
Life continued much in the same manner as other
tunnelling was done. There was no great urgency and not
a lot of mineral was being found. In late 1961 there were
rumours of financial difficulties and wage payments did not
come regularly. Less and less work was done at the mine
and by the end of 1962 had finished completely. There are
several versions locally as to what happened to the
leaseholder but none have been verified but references have
been made to grant fiddles, tax fiddles, financial problems.
The action" the writer experienced at Burgam was in
marked contrast to the "action" experienced at the 900-man
modem colliery in which he spent the rest of his time. The
writer could not sec any real point to the Burgam trials and
perhaps a sequel to this article might be written after
further research into the financial background to the
Burgarn activity. In 1963 all equipment including the cabin
was removed from site.
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Old (northern) Adil: open for about 15 yards (easily
accessible from the road in 1990).
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No. 1 Adil: about 130 yards in plus side passages (another
50 yards) and sump 12 feel deep (in use in 1990 by the
Quilver Activity Centre as an initiative test - a canoe is
present just inside the entrance but the sump is dry and
much shallower than formerly).
No. 2 Adil: about 15 yards (only 2 yards were not
collapsed in 1990).
No. 3 Adil: about
5 yards
(not accessible in 1990).
No. 4 Adil: about 20 yards to a sump, a short side passage
passes under a 20 feet dec:p shaft to surface (in 1990 the
sump still contained water but the shaft now contains
wooden stemples).
Immediately prior to this, part had been burned and the
contents scattered around the site. This included
certificates from South African mines.
No. 5 Adil: about 6 yards, a stope was also accessible from
the surface in this area ( collapsed, not accessible in 1990,
no slope visible at surface).
From 1961 the old and new workings at Burgam have been
visited often by mining and caving societies being one of the
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Tom luiwson in No. l Adit in 1957.
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Ore stockpile at No. 2 Adit (1960).
Roadside adit: not found (not found in 1990). Deep Level
shaft and Deep Level adit, not found (sbart likely to be
under the large tree, some evidence in 1990, also several
likely sites or the adit).
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Anon 1898. A short Justory of"" Pmdns IJ<ach Min<.
Office Rer. 4743/4S.
Sluop<. R«ord
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Drown, IJ. 1966 1'1v! Burgan, lead and &rytcs MW. Shrop$. Mining
Club first Supplement ro 1he Survey or the South Shro�hirc Le.ad
Mining Arca.
In 1967 Price recorded that the Birmingham Enterprise
Club bad dug out the entrance to the Boat Level. From
that time it was possible to walk up the Level, often neck
deep in water, to a position beneath Burgam Mine and to
pass beyond. At Burgam the shaft position i.s offset from
the Level and it W'J.S found to be boarded over 4 rcct above
the adit roof level. There i.s some stopcwork visible. It was
observed in January 1990 that tbe fence lines had nearly all
been altered making the location or adits difficult. A large
holly bush now overhangs the fiat area where the cabin
stood although in 1990 the tin bath shown in the photo on
the cabin roor can still be seen in the adjoining hush. The
rest or the area is well wooded and a new access to the
hillside has been formed between the No. I adit and the
northern adit.
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Drown, lJ. 1976 The Mines of Shrops�. Moorland Pres..,;; Ud.•
AshbOumc.
Bun. R. (in press) Official Mrta/liferous Mining S1arisu·c.sfor- Shroplhill.
Dines, ll.G. 19S8 The West Shropshire Mining Region. Bull. Gecl.Swv.
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No. 14.
Manders, C. l.960
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Price, G.LA. 1968 The Boat Level Sough. Trans. Birmingham Enterprise
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Club, Vol. 2, Marth 1968.
Sarjeant. WA.S. 1967 Pyromorphite from the Mines or West Shropshire.
Bull.PDMFIS. Vol. 3, Pt. 3, pp.175·78.
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Shmp<hir< O,unty Council. 3 Sept 1957 Planning Applkatu,n
13953.
Special Corrcsp0nden1.
19$9
Rcr. No.
1be Philosopher o( Rurgan, Mine.
J.ftJnc/u:st(T Guardian, 7 1'.1arch 1959.
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REFERENCES
I visited a Giants Cave and a lead mjne at 'NOric.
Shrops. Magazine, November 1960.
1\bnndonmen1 Pinn No. 3055. 30 Scp,crnl>cr 1893.
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Adams, O.tl (Ed.) 1962 Sul\'t)' of the South Slvopshire l...cad A(Uring
Area. First Supplcmcn1 1968. Second Supplement (Drown IJ. & Davies
TJ. 1972). (Pully Revised Edition: Heathcote J.A. 1979). Shrop<hirc
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Mining Club.
Adams, D.R. 1964 Survey o( the South ShmJ)IShirc Lead Mining Area.
Pan 11. 8111/..PDMHS. Vol. 2 Pan 3, pp.111-21.
lvor J. Brown.
95 Manygates Lane,
Sandal, Wakefield,
West Yorks. WF2 7DL.
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