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Millom Gazette

It is now upwards of forty years since these mines were first opened, and since that time they have had a somewhat chequered career. Though never their great neighbour, the Hodbarrow mines, a fairly good ore was obtained at Waterblean, and at one time employment was found for between twenty and thirty miners under the supervision of Mr. Ezekiel Dawson. The company working the mine at that time experienced great difficulties, the chief of which was getting the ore to its destination at a reasonable carriage. As the metal had to be carted the considerable distance to Millom station the freightage was a heavy item. With the development of Hodbarrow, Waterblean began to decline and some fifteen years ago as far as the mines, so far as raising of iron ore was concerned was stopped. For a number of years they remained idle, but about eight or nine years ago the works were taken over by a company under the style of the Waterblean colour and mining company. Extensive surface alterations were made, and an expensive plant was laid down for the production of various paints, the manufacture of which was continued until recently. The old difficulty of inaccessibility, which militated against the success of the old company, also hampered the operations of the new company, and it was eventually found necessary to close the works. Thus we lose an industry which had it been more conveniently situated, would have played a very important part in the development of the town. On Friday last Messer's. Lowden and Postlethwaite offered for sale by public action the various machinery and accessories, there was a good attendance and some fair prices were realised.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.

 

Name	Age	Occupation	Notes
Dawson, Ezekiel
Lowden, —		Auctioneer
Postlethwaite, —		Auctioneer