A History of Mining and Human Settlement

Echoes of the Past

The story of the Stiperstones is closely linked to its past as an industrial hub, peaking with the mining boom, but with roots stretching back to prehistoric settlement.

Traders to Miners

Human activity here dates back over three thousand years—Bronze Age burial mounds, an Iron Age hill fort, and the Portway track hint at ancient trade along the ridge. Geological forces later exposed rich veins of lead, zinc, and barytes, laying the groundwork for centuries of mining.

While lead extraction began as early as Roman times, the industry exploded in the 19th century. By the 1870s, the area was one of the UK’s top sources of lead.

The Mining Giants

Two major sites—Snailbeach and The Bog—dominated production. Snailbeach, recorded in 1676, employed up to 500 men and produced around 3,500 tons of lead annually at its peak. After the 1870s, it pivoted to zinc and barytes and finally closed in 1911, with some workings continuing into the 1950s. The Bog Mine closed in 1924.

The mining boom reshaped local communities. Small squatter settlements appeared around the hill’s edge where miners lived and grazed the land. Many were abandoned as the industry declined in the 20th century.

A Past Preserved

Today, the ruins of engine houses and chimneys remain as striking reminders of this era. The Bog Visitor Centre (a former Victorian school) and the Snailbeach Mine Visitor Centre interpret this industrial heritage. The “Once upon a hill” project is restoring squatter cottages at Blakemoorgate to preserve social history.

Nature has reclaimed many sites: old mine tunnels now host roosting bats, and abandoned buildings and ponds support birds and aquatic life.