Educational tours at Snailbeach Lead Mine

Shropshire Council, in partnership with the Shropshire Mines Trust, has now completed a Heritage Lottery Project to restore one of the mine buildings at the Snailbeach Lead Mine site.

The new facility will be used by the Shropshire Mines Trust as a ‘mess room’ for volunteer work parties, as well a changing room for educational visits and guided underground tours.

As well as educational visits, the Shropshire Mines Trust provides underground trips for visiting groups, and has a number of set days during the year for the general public to experience what working conditions were like down the mine.

The built remains at Snailbeach Lead Mine are reputed to some of the best in the country. The mine, the biggest in Shropshire, was once believed to be “the richest mine per acre of ground in Europe”, and was one of the most famous lead mines of Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Heather Kidd, Shropshire Councillor for Chirbury and Worthen, said:

“This project will help visitors of all ages and abilities to fully explore and experience the historical lead mining works at Snailbeach, and with the creation of a new educational pack and the unique opportunity of a trip underground, it is hoped to increase primary school visits to the site.”

Steve Charmley, Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:

“The Snailbeach heritage site forms part of the larger industrial and landscape heritage of the Stiperstones uplands, and is well known as a great place to visit.”

To book an underground tour, contact Peter Sheldrake on petersheldrake@tiscali.co.uk or call 01743 790613.