Green Hurth Lead Mine, Teesdale
Green Hurth Lead Mine, sometimes written as Greenhurth, sits high on the open moorland above Cow Green Reservoir in Upper Teesdale. It is one of the most important historic mining sites in the area, with remains spread widely across the hillside.
At first glance, it can feel like very little is left. Just scattered stone, uneven ground and quiet open moorland.
But as you begin to look more closely, the shapes start to appear.
Walls emerge from the grass. Lines form across the ground. Structures begin to connect.
What first looks like ruin slowly reveals itself as something much larger.
This was once a fully working lead mine, with buildings, underground levels, ore processing areas and water powered systems all connected across the landscape.
Today, much of it has fallen back into the moor.
But enough remains to understand how it worked, and to feel the scale of what once stood here.
What You Will Find at Green Hurth Mine
Across the site, you can still make out the remains of a complete working system.
Stone buildings and wall lines that once formed the heart of the mine
Multiple mine entrances cut into the hillside
The remains of an explosives store set slightly away from the main workings
Ore processing areas where material was sorted and washed
Water channels and drainage systems used to control flow across the site
Timber remains still visible in places, preserved in wet ground
A large waterwheel pit that once powered machinery across the hillside
How to Get There
Green Hurth Lead Mine is located around 2.2 miles north west from Cow Green Reservoir car park in Upper Teesdale.
A clear track leaves the car park and leads out across the moor, gradually climbing towards the mine.
Along the way, you pass other historic workings including West Cow Green and Dubby Sike Mine, all connected by the same route.
The track is easy to follow, but the landscape feels increasingly remote as you move further away from the reservoir.
The site lies on open access land, but this is a historic mining area. Uneven ground, hidden shafts and unstable remains are all part of the landscape, so care is always needed.
Approaching the Mine
The approach to Green Hurth is part of what makes it special.
At first, the moor feels empty.
Then small changes begin to appear.
Low earthworks. Broken stone. Subtle lines across the ground.
As you get closer, these details begin to connect.
What seemed scattered starts to form patterns. Walls align. Platforms become visible.
The outline of a once busy industrial site slowly reveals itself.
This is not a place that shows itself instantly.
It rewards slowing down.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE
Green Hurth is not a single ruin. It is a spread out working landscape, where each feature played a role in how the mine operated.
Mine Entrance Adit at Green Hurth
One of several entrances cut into the hillside, this opening would have led into the underground workings. These adits were used to access the lead veins and to drain water from the mine.
Ore Washing Area and Settling Floor
This rectangular structure is part of the ore washing system. Water would have been used here to separate heavier lead from lighter waste, leaving behind the material worth processing further.
Secondary Mine Entrance at Green Hurth
Another opening into the hillside, showing how extensive the underground workings were. These entrances are often partially hidden and can be easy to miss if you are not looking carefully.
Stone Building Remains at Green Hurth Mine
These are some of the most visible structures on the site, with sections of wall still standing to full height. What remains today gives a clear sense of the scale of the buildings that once stood here, likely used for storage, shelter and day to day operations.
Ore Processing Floor at Green Hurth
This flat area would have been part of the ore dressing process, where mined material was sorted, broken down and prepared for washing. Even now, the ground shows signs of this activity.
Explosives Store at Green Hurth Mine
Set slightly away from the main workings, this small stone building is believed to have been used for storing explosives. Its isolated position reflects the need for safety when handling gunpowder.
Water Channel and Sluice System
These channels controlled the movement of water across the site. Water was essential to how the mine operated, powering machinery and helping with ore processing.
Waterwheel Pit at Green Hurth Mine
One of the most impressive surviving features. This large stone structure once held a waterwheel that powered machinery across the site using a system of rods and mechanical linkages.
Old Track and Tramway Route
This track follows the line of what would have been a working route through the mine site. It likely connected key areas including shafts, processing zones and transport routes.
The Story of Green Hurth Lead Mine
Green Hurth has a long and layered history.
Early references to the site date back to the late 1700s, although early attempts at mining were limited.
More organised working began in the early to mid 1800s, with the mine developing significantly after the formation of the Green Hurth Mining Company in the 1860s.
From this point, the site expanded into a fully connected industrial operation.
Ore works were constructed. Water powered systems were introduced. Underground workings were extended.
By the late 19th century, Green Hurth had become a productive and well established lead mine.
It was known for producing high quality lead ore, with a notable silver content.
Over time, more than 18,000 tons of lead were extracted.
Today, the site is recognised as a Scheduled Monument due to its importance in understanding lead mining and the level of preservation that still survives.
How Green Hurth Worked
Green Hurth was not just a mine. It was a system.
Underground, miners followed narrow veins of lead through layers of limestone and rock. These workings were tight, wet and physically demanding.
Once the material reached the surface, it was processed.
Large pieces were broken down. Waste was separated. Water was used to wash and sort the ore.
Water power played a central role in this process.
A large waterwheel converted flowing water into mechanical energy. This energy was transferred across the site using a system of rods, allowing machinery to operate without steam power.
Everything was connected.
Each part of the site had a role.
How Many People Worked Here
Green Hurth was never a large scale mine employing hundreds of workers.
Records show that in the 1880s, around 60 to 70 men were employed at the site.
By the 1890s, this had reduced to smaller groups, often fewer than 25 workers.
This reflects the uncertain nature of lead mining in Teesdale.
Mines would expand when conditions were good, then reduce or pause when production dropped or prices fell.
What makes Green Hurth remarkable is not the number of people, but what was achieved by relatively small groups working over long periods of time.
Life and Risk at the Mine
Working at Green Hurth was demanding and often dangerous.
Historical records show that accidents did occur, including a fatal fall of ground in 1882 when a miner was killed while working at the shaft.
The remote location added to the challenge.
Weather could change quickly on the moor. Access was difficult. Underground conditions were wet, dark and unstable.
Life here revolved around the mine.
Despite this, the site supported workers and their families for many years, forming part of the wider mining life of Teesdale.
Decline and Abandonment
By the late 1800s, lead mining across Teesdale was beginning to decline.
Falling prices, difficult working conditions and reduced profitability affected mines across the region.
Reports from the early 1900s describe fewer workers, reduced output and an uncertain future.
In 1902, Green Hurth was abandoned after flooding made further work impossible.
The underground workings filled rapidly, bringing an end to operations.
Like many mines in Teesdale, it was left behind.
Why Green Hurth Feels Different
What makes Green Hurth stand out is how much of it is still readable.
Even though many structures are no longer complete, their shapes remain.
Walls. Platforms. Lines across the ground.
You can still follow how the site once worked.
It is not defined by what is still standing, but by what can still be understood.
That is what makes it feel larger than it first appears.
Exploring Green Hurth Today
Green Hurth is a place best explored slowly.
The site is on open access land, but it remains a historic and potentially hazardous environment.
We always stay outside buildings and mine entrances, as structures and underground workings can be unstable.
Uneven ground, hidden shafts and loose stone are all part of the landscape.
Taking your time and paying attention is essential.
A Place Worth Taking Your Time With
Green Hurth is one of those places that changes the longer you stay.
At first, it feels quiet and minimal.
Then the details begin to build.
The lines in the ground. The remains of stone. The movement of water.
It becomes easier to imagine the work that once happened here.
Now, it has returned to silence.
And that contrast is what makes it such a powerful place to explore.