High Rake Mine

High Rake Mine is a former lead mine in the Derbyshire Dales, in the heart of England's Peak District. It sits close to the villages of Great Hucklow and Little Hucklow, at roughly 53.297 N, 1.756 W. Today it is a Scheduled Monument and one of the more rewarding stops in the area for anyone interested in industrial history.

What is High Rake?

The name comes from "rake", the local word for a near-vertical mineral vein cutting through the limestone hills of Derbyshire. The same vein carries different names along its length, and the stretch around Little Hucklow is known as High Rake and Washers Rake. Miners here worked galena, the main ore of lead, which for centuries was one of the most valuable resources of this part of England.

What is the history of the mine?

Lead mining in Derbyshire is very old. County heritage records suggest it may reach back to the Late Bronze Age, although no archaeological evidence from that period has been recorded. Ore was taken from near the surface of this vein over many centuries, and by the end of the 18th century the shallower workings were largely exhausted.

In the 19th century a company was formed to go deeper: to sink a shaft through the layer of volcanic rock known as toadstone and reach the limestone beneath, where richer ore was hoped for. It was an expensive, ambitious venture. Steam pumping engines were installed to drain the workings, including a Sims engine. Even so, the shaft stayed in toadstone for a long time. The company was wound up in 1852 after heavy financial losses. Sources disagree on the founding date and the size of the losses, so treat the exact figures as approximate.

What can you see today?

The remains are protected as a Scheduled Monument. Volunteers from the Peak District Historical Mines Society have excavated the ruins of the 19th-century engine house and associated buildings. Interpretation panels on site explain the layout of the works and how the miners operated. One shaft here reaches around 180 metres, so the site demands care: keep away from capped shafts and stay out of fenced areas.

Who is it for?

• fans of industrial archaeology and mining history,
• walkers exploring the Peak District who want to add some history to a hike,
• photographers looking for atmospheric ruins in a rural landscape.

The wider story of mining in the area is told in Lead in the Veins, a book compiled by parishioners of Great Hucklow.

Frequently asked questions

Where is High Rake Mine? In the Derbyshire Dales, in the Peak District, near Great Hucklow and Little Hucklow.

What was mined there? Lead ore, mainly galena.

Is it a protected site? Yes, it is a Scheduled Monument.

Are there information panels? Yes, panels on site describe the history and the surviving remains.

Can you go underground? No. The shafts are dangerous, and visits are limited to the surface and marked paths.

When did the mine operate? Ore was worked on the vein over many centuries, and the 19th-century company ended its operations in 1852.

High Rake Mine is a small but telling example of how the lead industry shaped the landscape and history of the Peak District.