GC2VNWF: All Mine 1 – Wardle’s North Lode - ARCHIVED
GC2VNX3: All Mine 2 – Stamp House - ARCHIVED
GC2VNXJ: All Mine 3 – Beckwith’s Arch and Waterwheel - ARCHIVED
GX2VNYJ: All Mine 4 – Glen Rushen Reservoir
GC2VNZ8: All Mine 5 – Glen Rushen Miners’ Cottages
GX2VNZF: All Mine 6 – Glen Dhoo Ford
* Keep to the obvious paths and tracks as they were probably used by the miners.
* Due diligence at all times rests with you.
* No cache is buried in or under rock piles or placed in any tricky places.
* There is no need to disturb any rocks. This is a site of late 19th Century industrial archaeology.
* Do not attempt to climb any buildings or structures. Please respect the area.
*The Beckwith's mine area is reasonably safe so long as you stay on the right side of any safety fencing and do not go climbing where you should not.
Small bore shafts in the Beckwith's mine area are usually identifiable as a crater type mound. These depressions are usually fenced and covered with 15 feet of waste in-fill material, on top of pine timbers. They should not be walked upon.
Beckwith's Mine is a lead ore mine with high silver content in places and in 1831 mining operations were started by the Isle of Man Mining Company. In 1881 Mr W Beckwith, whose name is given to the mining in this area, led a company, (New Foxdale Mining Syndicate) to extract lead ore from here. Set against severe flooding of the mine or in times of drought, water shortages to drive the machinery, and finally the geological stresses of the rock formation, the venture proved to be unsuccessful. What you now see are the abandoned mine workings of what was once yielding the 5th largest output of lead from a mine in the UK.
The Flat-rod link (long rods) for the pumps ran from the crank on the side of the water wheel here and up through the arched tunnel. These rods rocked a crank which worked the mine pumping system, using either bellows or hydraulics, as well as a ratchet system for lifting kibble (buckets of ore) out of the mine.
Sadly, during a storm in 1989 the movement of trees caused the adjacent retaining wall to collapse into the wheel pit demolishing the water wheel casing. The arch has just managed to survive - but for how long? On a visit in December 2012 one of the bridging arch key stones has sadly come loose. A little bit of restoration now would preserve a very unique piece of history.