Gothic Arches

Dukesfield smelt mill, near Hexham

These impressive arches are the remains of a huge lead smelting mill. They once carried two flues from furnaces which fed two chimneys further up the bank. Thanks to the work of local people and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, a two year project is underway to conserve the arches and to discover and share more about its heritage which reaches from the hills of the Pennines to the banks of the Tyne.

We have long been interested in lead mining and smelting. I suppose because we live within the history of it and also my research has found many of Gordon's ancestors involved in it in Northumberland in the 19th century. I only found out about this a day or two ago and, as we were heading to the north east, we decided to find it.



Another concert tonight, very different from yesterday. Instead of a huge cast in a lofty building, tonight will be two people in a small studio theatre. We're going to the Sage, Gateshead to see Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain . . . again!