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Only visible remains of the late C18th lead smelting mill at Dukesfield. It consists of a high wall with two Gothic arches lined with brick, the southernmost of which takes the route of the Hall Burn. To the south, the wall changes direction to run up the steep valley side.

It is the remaining superstructure used to carry the flues from the smelting furnaces thought to be located in a former building due south of the arches to chimneys just above the valley side. In Allendale. long horizontal flues were built running up hillsides to remote chimneys, from which valuable deposits of lead and silver could be reclaimed NY8053 : The western Allendale lead smelting flue and the northern chimney. The Dukesfield Arches point uphill towards ‘Leadpipe Hill’ on the once open moorland a mile to the south. However, no flue was ever constructed here, and the run was quite short to chimneys just above the valley-side, and this may have been an early version.

A smelt mill in this location was in operation by 1695. Production ended in 1834 and it was dismantled in 1837. In 1811, the mill consisted of 2 Roasting Furnaces (used for preliminary treatment of the lead ore), 5 Ore Hearths (to produce lead from roasted ore), 2 Slag Hearths (for second refinement of the slag arising from the Ore Hearths), 2 Refining and 1 Reducing Furnace (to extract silver).

The lead ore (bouse) was carried to the smelt mill by trains of 25-50 pack-ponies (galloways) and later by carts. From Allenheads NY8645, two routes were used: either the Long Drag (track), via Ladle Well NY8752, Westburnhope NY8854, and Rowley Head NY9056 to Whitley Chapel, or using Broadway (track) via Green Hill NY8647, Hangman Hill NY8852 and Rawgreen NY9256. From Rookhope NY9342 the route was via Hunstanworth NY9449, Bay Bridge NY9550, Pennypie NY9551, Ladycross NY9555 and Dukesfield Hall NY9457.

After smelting at Dukesfield Mill, pigs of lead weighing from 8 to 12 stone were carried by the Lead Road via Dukesfield Hall, Slaley NY9757, Scales Cross NZ0356 to Apperly Cross Roads NZ0558. From here, new teams of ponies carried the lead onward to Blaydon Mills where it was manufactured into lead sheets and pipes. Returning ponies would carry provisions for the miners, and coal from Greymare Hill NZ0455 back to Dukesfield.

A preliminary archaeological excavation was undertaken in October 2012 to support an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funds to conserve the arches and interpret the site for visitors NY9457 : Archaeological excavation at Dukesfield Smelt Mill

The remaining arches are a Grade II Listed Building Link

Dukesfield Smelters & Carriers Project (2013-2015): Link Archive Link
YouTube: Link