The third episode of the sixth series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John travels across the remote North Pennines to find out more about Galena or lead ore. How was it mined, where did it go and what kind of life was had by those who risked their lives to work in this very dangerous industry. Standing on the moors of the North Pennines presenter John Grundy explains...

The third episode of the sixth series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John travels across the remote North Pennines to find out more about Galena or lead ore. How was it mined, where did it go and what kind of life was had by those who risked their lives to work in this very dangerous industry. Standing on the moors of the North Pennines presenter John Grundy explains that in this programme he will be searching for the wonderful mineral Galena or lead and the lost landscapes of the lead miners, just one of the many forgotten mine fields. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over a montage of the tranquil beauty of the North Pennine landscape that includes Upper Weardale, Teesdale, Allandale and Swaledale John explains that you get the impression that nothing has ever disturbed the tranquillity and that the land is unspoiled and only touch by man in the lightest of ways. Exclaiming how wrong this is a second montage, this time of abandoned and ruined stone buildings, water pouring from former mine workings and large slag heaps. Walking through Killhope Lead Mining Museum near the village of Cowshill in County Durham, John states that for thousands of years this area was a hotbed of mining and industry mainly of lead and this programme with look at how it was mined, what they did with it and how the miners lived in this wild and beautiful area. Over a montage of the museum John talks about why he likes it going into the history of the site which was originally called Park Level Mine. Water drains out of the entrance into the mine itself known as a ‘adit’ or ‘level’ which is in the shape of a horseshoe so that horses could be lead inside. John appears at the entrance ready to go inside dressed in waterproofs, wellington boots and with several powerful lights. Heading into the mine John can’t imagine the effort necessary to cut the tunnel like this through solid rock. As he continues his journey, he talks about how lead is formed and as he passes displays featuring mannequins of former miners digging out the lead talks about the different types of mining that took place known as ‘flats’ and ‘veins. The remote landscape surrounding Killhope with John making his way to the miners lodging house knowns as the miner shop. Inside a museum recreation of what it would have looked like with John sitting beside the fire explaining how this place was a disgusting place both filthy and horribly overcrowded. Back outside John makes his way to the Killhope Wheel, a large water wheel which was used to power the engines that crushed the lead ore into manageable chunks. Continuing to follow the path he arrives at the reservoir which powered the wheel looking out at streams that fed into it that ensures a steady and reliable source of power. Standing beside a wall overlooking Killhope below, John states from this position you can see Killhope as part of a wider mining landscape. On the far hillside a private residence that was once another mine shop and standing alone in the landscape several former gunpower stores. When you start looking, comments John, this area is absolutely laced with former mining activities. Another montage of various mining activities from old and abandoned buildings, mine workings and entrances to slag and spoil heaps some partly grassed over. Following a track through a woodland and over a river past a waterfall with a sculpture of a woman in it, John talks about visiting thirty years earlier as a teacher with a school party and arriving at an old and long abandoned lead mine. As he walks around the site past the mine shop, the engines shop and pit wheel he stops next to the pit shaft remembering the mysteriousness of the place and not knowing what it was. He points out the changes that have taken place and holds up to the camera a piece of lead ore or Galena he found that day which he has kept ever since. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Standing beside a stone wall John hums an old Northumbrian folk song about the Earl of Derwentwater who was executed for taking part in Jacobite rebellion in 1715. John explains that following his death his lands, which included lands in the lead rich North Pennines, were given to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital in London who in 1768 opened a smelting works at Langley near Haydon in Northumberland. The works closed in 1887, but in 1858 they built the 100ft chimney beside which John is now standing. In the distance the reservoir which is the only other obvious physical reminder of the area lead smelting past. Asking why the chimney was in this remote location, John begins to walk along the massive flue which travels beneath John’s feet. Explaining that it was built to take the dangerous gases away from the smelter fires, experts no longer believe it was made to protect the workers. Now standing in a break in the flue John points out that as the fumes from the furnaces rose up the flue it deposited lead minerals into the stone which were periodically scrapped off and recovered by small boys sent into the flue. Over views of former miners’ cottages in the village of Allenshead, John explains they were built in the early 1800s by the mine owners WB (Wentworth Beaumont) Lead who were also the Lords of the Manor and owning all the mines in the area. An entrance into one of their mines nearby, now covered up. Standing over a mine shaft John explains that miners had to climb down ladders 240ft to reach one of the five levels below. In a field he stands beside a metal railing explaining how it was uses to help get horses into the mine. Views of what were the Mine Offices changes to Allenshead Hall built as the Mine Agents House and belonging to a remarkable engineer called Thomas Sopwith. Nearby a large clock built for Sopwith who was meticulous about time. On a hill in the near distance Allenshead School also built by Sopwith as be believed in education with John explaining that the literacy rate in the town was 90%. As John wonders around Allenshead and along the banks of the River East Allen he explains that while the cottages and school showed there was money in lead mining, the ordinary miner earned very little leading them into living a double life. In the hills surrounding the village houses that once belonged to miner-farmers all part of a smallholding many miners had which produced enough to support him and his family if mining was bad. As John looks over one of these house he finds on the side a high doorway showing that as well as a family home it is also a farm building. He then ask what would it have been like to live here? At the Weardale Museum at Ireshopeburn near Bishop Auckland in County Durham a recreation of a miner-farmer’s cottage with John sitting comfortably beside the kitchen fire. Explaining that the veins and flats inside the lead mines contained not just deposits of lead ore but also other unwanted minerals, he talks about an art form quite unique to Upper Weardale which he adores. On display inside the museum a series of Spar Boxes, beautiful miniature landscapes and dioramas made entirely out of mineral specimens that John loves so much he awards them this week’s ‘Grundy’s Wonder’. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Leaning against the wall of High House Chapel which also forms part of the Weardale Museum at Ireshopeburn John talks about the beauty of spar boxes and the Methodist religion. Over views of its exterior John explains that the chapel was built in 1760 making this and the one at Newbiggin in Upper Teesdale a very rare building and the oldest Methodist chapels still in continuous use. Heading inside he explains that he loves chapels like these for their wonderful simplicity. Heading up to the pulpit he asks if he can give a second ‘Grundy’s Wonder’, a voice says no. Instead, he gives this week’s ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ to the many spoil heaps dotting the landscape in the hope they will reveal more galena or iron ore a piece of which he holds up with a smile. Over the closing credits a montage of some of the locations featured in this programme. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Title: With thanks to Trustees of High House Chapel Credit: Camera Alistair McKenzie Sound Andrew Bennett, Paul Graham, Gail Westwood Lighting John Haynes Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music John Cook Sound Dubbing Andy Ludbrook Editor Mark Duncan Executive Producer Graeme Thompson Series Producer Steve Robins Title: © ITV 2005 End title: Working Wonders. ITV Tyne Tees. A Working Wonders TV production in Association with ITV