Arch of Former Lintzgarth Smelt Mill Flue

The Arch of the former Lintzgarth Smelt Mill Flue is a lone stone survivor of the lead industry that once shaped Rookhope valley in County Durham, northern England. Of the whole Lintzgarth smelting complex, this arch is the only part that still stands, which makes it the focal point of any visit.

What exactly is it?

The structure is a semicircular sandstone arch with a radius of roughly three metres. It belonged to a system of flues that carried fumes from the smelting furnaces away from the works. According to one source, it was one of six arches that carried the stone flue over the river and the road in the valley. With the rest of the flue gone, it now looks like a forgotten doorway standing among fields and hills.

Where did it come from?

The Lintzgarth smelt mill dates to 1737. The Blackett family built it to process lead ore from mines across the Rookhope valley. The works was later run by the Blackett-Beaumont Company, which also extracted silver from the lead. The arch itself belongs to an 1802 addition, when the mill was already well established in the local economy.

How long was the flue?

Sources disagree. Some give about a mile and a half (around 2.4 km), others about two miles (around 3.2 km). Whichever figure is right, the flue was a large undertaking, and its trace in the landscape is still easy to read.

Heritage protection

The arch is a Grade II listed building, listed on 5 June 1987 (Historic England list entry 1277257). It lies in the civil parish of Stanhope and is most closely associated with the village of Rookhope. Keys to the Past holds an archaeological record for the site (reference D36875), and the Durham Record has a photograph of it taken in 2002.

Who is it for?

It suits visitors interested in industrial archaeology, the history of Pennine lead mining and photography. The arch makes a good short stop on a walk or drive through Rookhope valley, and it is often described as a forgotten doorway to another world.

Frequently asked questions

Is the arch the whole flue? No. It is the only surviving part of the Lintzgarth smelting complex; the rest of the structure has gone.

When was it built? The mill dates to 1737, and the arch comes from an 1802 addition.

Is it protected? Yes, it has been a Grade II listed building since 1987.

Who owned the mill? The Blackett family built it, and the Blackett-Beaumont Company later ran it.

Where is it? In Rookhope valley, in the civil parish of Stanhope, County Durham, England.