I visited this museum just over a year ago, it was superb then and is even better today. After the rain of the last few days I was pleasantly surprised to wake to an almost cloudless sky. Near Identical conditions to those experienced on my last trip here and not conducive to photography in a high contrast environment such as this. I’m generally pleased with the improvement, unusual for me!
They have a wonderful collection of crystal samples which on my last visit were housed above the lamp room and smithy in this building. They have been moved into a gallery adjacent to the reception area and it is now just about possible to get a picture.
The last two are small areas of a spar box which has magnifying glasses let into it. Spar boxes were made by the miners either to decorate their own homes or to supplement their wages. They are well worth the admission fee on their own.
This is what I really came to see the last surviving thirty foot diameter overshot waterwheel.
Compared to similar images in the link below I’ve got better at this snapping job……………………All this and this is what it drives…………………..
This shaft and belt which powers the jigs used to separate the galena or lead from the lighter spars and calcites. Now I did mean to get some pictures of the jigs but I got chatting to the millwright and forgot. Not to worry I’ll no doubt be back.
An ore tub. These were pulled out of the mine in pairs by ponies.
The view down Weardale, a perfect autumn day.
Below is a link to my previous post on this place. Have a good weekend whatever you are up to.
http://adriansimages.blogspot.com/2009/08/wheels-220809.html
