A seminar to be held at the Northern Pennines Heritage Trust Centre, Nenthead, Saturday 8 April 2006 by the North Pennines Heritage Trust. This is a registered charity and worthy of your support.
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The evidence for silver production from the northern Pennine orefield in the late medieval period has been addressed by both historians and geologists in recent years. Whilst there is strong documentary and statistical support for the position that the Northern Pennines were the major source of newly mined English silver in the late medieval period, that is not backed up by the geological evidence. The majority of the ores mined in the modern period were low in silver and there is, as yet, no evidence for significant quantities of silver-rich minerals at the shallow depths accessible to the medieval miner.
Although the quantity of silver produced during the 12th century can be estimated with some confidence we do not know the precise location of the workings. Neither can we be certain as to the nature of the ores worked, where they were processed, nor the quantity of lead which might have been produced as a by-product. Information is available on the organisational structure under which mining was carried out but there is currently little to indicate how it fitted into the social framework and upland agricultural practice.
This seminar is being held to consider the evidence for silver production and discuss how our understanding of mining in the area during the late medieval period might be advanced. The intention is to hear presentations from all those with an interest in the area - geologists, historians, archaeologists and mine exploration.
There will be no charge for the seminar itself - lunch will be available in the Centre cafe.
To Book
Please contact Sheila Barker, The Rise, ALSTON, Cumbria CA9 3DB; e-mail sheila.barker[at]cybermoor.org.uk
If you are interested in contributing
Please contact Dr Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE; tel. 01437 532578; e-mail P.F.Claughton[at]exeter.ac.uk
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