The John Bargrave Collection

Although the first ancient mining here, perhaps as far back as the 14th century, was for lead, the mine became unique in the 19th century as a commercial producer of barytocalcite. When the higher barium-content witherite from nearby Nentsberry came onto the market, the demand for the inferior Blagill product dried-up and there are no production records after 1895. The main veins worked were Slote, Thorngill-Lough, Shildwell or Whitwell and Fistas Rake or Blagill Old. Minor strings also tried were Coatley Hill and Copperbole Head veins" (mindat.org 4424).