Sikehead Lead Mine – A Marker on the Moor

High above Rookhope, the chimney of Sikehead Lead Mine stands as one of the clearest reminders of just how busy these hills once were. Built in the mid-19th century, it formed part of the system that kept the deeper workings running as the mine pushed further into the moor. The surrounding landscape still carries the marks of that industry — long hushes carved into the ground, spoil mounds, filled shafts and the faint footprints of buildings that once housed the equipment and engines needed to keep the mine alive. For generations, this hillside wasn’t just a view; it was a workplace, a livelihood and a tough, unforgiving environment shaped by the constant demand for lead.

Look at it today and the contrast is striking. The noise is long gone, the machinery has vanished and the moor has slowly softened itself around what remains. But the chimney still holds its place, rising above the heather as a marker of the past and a reminder of the people who worked in heat, dust and darkness deep below. It’s easy to walk past relics like this without knowing their story, but once you do, the whole landscape shifts — what looks empty is full of history, and what looks quiet was once alive with graft.