Description and History of Site:-
Standing ruins and buried remains of an 18th century engine house located to the north, north-west and east of St Michael and All Angels Church.

Five Hills

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MNY12577&resourceID=1009

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=eda5e204-f387-4bf2-9505-90da62cd3f0f&resourceID=19191

Engine House - NZ 23611 05519
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=64a4a87d-5dba-4eeb-b2d3-9f09c6399735&resourceID=19191

Possible Buddle site - NZ 23553 05730
Spread of slags NZ 23147 05936 on footpath for Cow Lane NZ 23153 05996 to Moulton Road NZ 23141 05815
Slag blocks in wall about 25 m south of Well Cottage (behind bus stop sign) NZ 22998 05929

Slag block coping stones NZ 22824 05909 (School Bank) East ?? Cottage
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MNY32234&resourceID=1009

Slag blocks in wall about 50 m south of the Shoulder of Mutton on Smithgutter Lane (tack to Moulton) NZ 22691 05704
Revetted stream from NZ 22746 05639 to NZ 22856 05603
Embanked stream from NZ 22856 05603, NZ 22904 05585, NZ 22958 05494, NZ 22969 05466, NZ 23051 05414
Embanked stream from NZ 23425 06188, NZ 23764 06278 Copper had been extracted in the Richmond region since the 15th century; a charter of Edward IV in 1454 refers to a `copper mine of Richmond'. The copper deposits at Middleton Tyas were some of the highest grade ore in Europe, although the amount was small. The first copper at Middleton Tyas was discovered in a quarry in c.1733. Trials in 1736 and 1738 were unsuccessful but profitable workings had been established by 1742. The mines at Middleton Tyas were notably 'wet' and this was originally controlled by hand pumping. Subsequently, pumping engines powered by horses were tried, followed by steam powered, coal fired, pumping engines were under construction. The remains of the engine house of one of these survives to the east of the church. By 1763 the recoverable ore at Middleton Tyas was virtually exhausted and mining appears to have ceased by 1779. The copper extracted was processed at mills in the area. The precise location and nature of survival of these is not yet established. [Based on the listing description].

The engine house was probably built by George Tissington in 1753 to contain an atmospheric pumping engine to drain the workings. Tissington was also known to have built a smelt mill with a reverberatory furnace, at a cost of £500, at around the same time. Its actual location is in doubt.

Further Reading and References:-
Hornshaw, Thomas R, Copper mining in Richmondshire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Durham
theses, Durham University, 1972, Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/10085/
Hornshaw, Thomas R, Copper mining in Richmondshire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, North
Yorkshire County Record Office Publications No 6, 1975, reprinted 1981
Richmondshire District Council, Middleton Tyas Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, Adopted as
supplementary planning guidance 17.07.08
Wadge AJ, Hudson JM, Patrick DJ, Smith IF, Evans AD, Appleton JD, Bateson JH, Natural Environment Research Council Institute of Geological Sciences Mineral Reconnaissance Program, No. 54 Copper mineralisation near Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire
Angerstein R R, Illustrated Travel Diary 1753-55, 1755, English translation Berg T, Berg P,Science Museum, 2001,
Jars G, Voyages metalurgiques. (Paris) Vol. 3, pp. 72-75. 1781
Raistrick A, The copper deposits of Middleton Tyas, N. Yorks. Naturalist, No.952, pp. 111-115, 1936
Gill MC, British Mining No 45,
Raistrick A, The Lead Industry of Wensleydale and Swaledale. Vol 2, The smelting mills. Moorland Publishing, 1975, p111
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MNY12574&resourceID=1009

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- copper smelt mill mines

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public road or footpath

Address :- Church Lane, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 6RL
Grid Ref :- NZ 23449 05676
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.445949 , Long -1.639913
Local Authority :- Richmondshire District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - North Riding
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1020403,
Site Condition :- Earthworks only
Site Dates :- 1742 - 1779
Record Date :- 18 March 2016

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter