John Hardy (3)

This book provides an excellent history of the development, working and eventual decline of the lead mining industry in the Arkengarthdale and Gunnerside areas of Swaledale providing good thumb nail sketches of the main players in the exploitation of this ancient resource. The book is large format providing a shop window for its many really good colour photographs. The pictures are backed up by useful maps and plans of the mines their, veins, levels, cuts and adits. A reader unfamiliar with show more these terms will regret the absence of a glossary which is the only shortcoming of the book. The author describes his underground trips into long abandoned workings with obvious respect and admiration for 'the old man' an appreciation dating from 1954 when at Gunnerside Methodist Chapel he became the 'last of a long line of Methodist Ministers in Swaledale'. Thus he follows in that distinguished English tradition of the intellectually curious clergyman. Anyone interested in the history of lead mining should enjoy this book. For me it is a little gem. show less