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Henry Marchington; was mining lead ore at the following locations within
the
liberty of Peak Forest. c.1763 - 1765 'on Perry and Foreside Rake on
Snelslow', c.1770 ' at Hill End Mine on Gautries Rake'. these all being Lead
mining plots.
lead mining was a major industry in the High Peak as far back as the Romans,
as large deposits of lead ore were to be found, however they had to be mined and
as such it was hard work and the rewards were some time good but more often only
enough to live on. Each stake/plot were managed and guarded with great efficiency
and the industry was regulated and held its own court to ensure each claim/stake
were regulated and disputes settled as such expense was it to start a new mine
which necessitated syndicates to be formed to share the cost and work load.
John Marchington; was at the following locations, c.1752 'at Harret Low
Hillocks on Gautries', c.1763 & 1766 ' on Barmoor and at Jack Thous Tickled
Me Once Again Mine on Barmoor Great Vein', c.1770 ' on Gautries Rake', c.1774
- 1777 ' in Paddock Vein in Barmoor and on Beelow Top', c.1779 'at Fearney
Slack Old Vein and John Garlick's Old Founder at the Loads Barn'.
John Marchington; was a member of the lead miners (Barmoot)
court from 1752
until 1779. This court was held at the Devonshire Arms Inn at Peak Forest, to
sort out any mining disputes etc.
James Marchington; was mining lead at 'Oxlow Old Vein near the Loads
Barn' in
1788, in 1809 -1813 he was mining at Smiler Mine on Old White Rake on Eldon
Hill overlooking Peak Forest village and in 1815 he was at Coalpithole Mine
at Perryfoot.
It appears that your relatives were using natural caves as access ways into
mineral veins because the following is recorded by the Barmaster of Peak
Forest Liberty:-
'John Marchington at the Bullpit'. July 1759 & 'Henry Marchington at the
Shakepit on Perry'. May 1760.
In the 1960's cavers discovered long-lost mined passages under the floor of
the Bullpit. It appears that they entered workings excavated by your kin in
1758 - 1760.
1798. MARCHINGTON James (Peak forest, HP) Shopkeeper fined 5/ for incorrect
Weights by Wright & denman justices. ref Wirkswoth parish
website
Mining periods
Henry 1760-1765
John 1752-1779
James 1788-1815
possible Henry father of John and John the father of James who died leaving a
will.
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