Gunnerside Gill
Encyclopedia
Gunnerside Gill is a small valley in the Yorkshire Dales
which branches off Swaledale
into moorland to the north of Gunnerside
.
The site of intensive lead mining in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the valley still contains much evidence of its industrial past. Streams were dammed, and the water released as a torrent to scour soil off the surface and reveal lead ore (galena
) seams. The resultant scars are known as hushes
(perhaps an onomatopoeia of the sound that the water made). Bunton, Friarfold, and Gorton hushes are on the east side of the valley, with the North Hush being on the opposite side. Large areas of the upper valley are covered in spoil heaps
from the mining activity, and a number of buildings remain. Many of the buildings and mine structures are scheduled ancient monuments.
Waterfalls in Botcher Gill, a tributary of Gunnerside Beck, contain numerous fossils.
The Sir Francis mine opened further down the valley in 1864 to exploit deeper seams, and was the first to use compressed air drills. It was abandoned in 1882 after failing to make decent returns.
The Coast to Coast Walk
passes through the upper reaches of the valley.
As the valley descends southwards the scenery changes from the industrial to become a mixture of woodland and sheep pastures, before the beck joins the River Swale
in the village of Gunnerside
.
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
which branches off Swaledale
Swaledale
Swaledale is one of the northernmost dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England. It is the dale of the River Swale on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire.-Geographical overview:...
into moorland to the north of Gunnerside
Gunnerside
Gunnerside is a village in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, England, situated between the River Swale and its tributary, Gunnerside Beck.Gunnerside Ghyll , a smaller valley running northwards, at right angles to the Swale valley , was the site of a major lead mining industry in Swaledale until the late...
.
The site of intensive lead mining in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the valley still contains much evidence of its industrial past. Streams were dammed, and the water released as a torrent to scour soil off the surface and reveal lead ore (galena
Galena
Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide. It is the most important lead ore mineral.Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system often showing octahedral forms...
) seams. The resultant scars are known as hushes
Hushing
Hushing is an ancient and historic mining method using a flood or torrent of water to reveal mineral veins. The method was applied in several ways, both in prospecting for ores, and for their exploitation. Mineral veins are often hidden below soil and sub-soil, which must be stripped away to...
(perhaps an onomatopoeia of the sound that the water made). Bunton, Friarfold, and Gorton hushes are on the east side of the valley, with the North Hush being on the opposite side. Large areas of the upper valley are covered in spoil heaps
Slag heap
A spoil tip is a pile built of accumulated spoil - the overburden removed during coal and ore mining. These waste materials are generally composed of shale, as well as smaller quantities of carboniferous sandstone and various other residues...
from the mining activity, and a number of buildings remain. Many of the buildings and mine structures are scheduled ancient monuments.
Waterfalls in Botcher Gill, a tributary of Gunnerside Beck, contain numerous fossils.
The Sir Francis mine opened further down the valley in 1864 to exploit deeper seams, and was the first to use compressed air drills. It was abandoned in 1882 after failing to make decent returns.
The Coast to Coast Walk
Coast to Coast Walk
The Coast to Coast Walk is a 192-mile unofficial and mostly unsignposted long distance footpath in Northern England...
passes through the upper reaches of the valley.
As the valley descends southwards the scenery changes from the industrial to become a mixture of woodland and sheep pastures, before the beck joins the River Swale
River Swale
The River Swale is a river in Yorkshire, England and a major tributary of the River Ure, which itself becomes the River Ouse, emptying into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary....
in the village of Gunnerside
Gunnerside
Gunnerside is a village in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, England, situated between the River Swale and its tributary, Gunnerside Beck.Gunnerside Ghyll , a smaller valley running northwards, at right angles to the Swale valley , was the site of a major lead mining industry in Swaledale until the late...
.