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Force Crag Mine open day

Force Crag Mine processing mill, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TS

  • 14 Sep 2024
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

Brought to you by the National Trust for Heritage Open Days, come and join us for a rare opportunity to visit the processing mill at Force Crag Mine.

The processing mill at Force Crag Mine holds the most complete assemblage of metal ore mining machinery preserved in-situ anywhere in England. Although the underground tunnels have collapsed, we would like to give you this rare opportunity to take a look around the processing mill. Come and see how the rock ore being extracted from the mine was turned into the finished product sold to market. A rusty ‘tin shed’ beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this building is a tribute to human engineering and ingenuity, and it has a powerful story to tell about humanity’s impact on the planet. Being the last working mine in the Lake District, having closed in 1991, it has been designated as an Ancient Scheduled Monument and a Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Whether for its historical or geological significance, or simply for the views, come and take a look for yourself!

To make this event more inclusive, we would like to offer transport for those who may have difficulty getting to the mine under their own steam. If you do not require transport, booking is not required. To book transport for the day, please see follow this link: https://bit.ly/3kPESA5

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:
10am with last tour starting at 2:30pm

Location & directions

Force Crag Mine processing mill, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TS

Directions:
Force Crag Mine processing mill at head of Coledale - Grid Ref NY199216, what3words:///admire.amounting.martini Please meet us at the mill itself which must be accessed by foot or bicycle.
Contact on day:
Jessie Binns
Telephone number:
+447909962955

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

In an effort to make this event more inclusive, we are offering transportation from the parking lot to the mill so please book via the second event page if you require transport by using the following link: https://bit.ly/3kPESA5. The processing mill is off-grid and so there is neither heating nor lighting. It contains steep narrow staircases, narrow passageways and is dimly lit. A hill must be climbed on gravel paths to access the building.

Additional information

Last tour starts at 2:30pm. This event will go ahead come rain or shine. Tours are an hour long. When you arrive at the mill building you may need to wait 15-20 minutes for the next tour to start. You will not go underground – the tunnels have collapsed and are unsafe. You will get a tour of the mill building. The mill is at the end of 2 miles of unsurfaced track from Braithwaite village (access by foot or bicycle only unless you book with transport through our other event page). We cannot accommodate dogs in the processing mill.

Max no of people per tour:
20
Est. tour duration:
1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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