Echoes in the Reeds: Moor Row Pit Number One

The landscape at Moor Row Pit Number One may appear to be a simple wetland today, but it represents the heart of the Victorian "Red Gold" rush. This site (54.5154990, -3.5345953) was once the location of a key operation in the Dalzell family’s mining empire that transformed a quiet moorland into an industrial powerhouse.

Anthony Dalzell obtained the licence to mine the land, and his son, Thomas Henry Dalzell, became a central figure in the village's development. This is why the main thoroughfare is named Dalzell Street.

​The Timeline of Sinking

​While Pit No. 1 was an early player, it was part of a rapid sequence of development:

  • ​The Early Trials (1820s–1830s): Before the Dalzells sank Pit No. 1, there were early attempts at the nearby Gutterby Mine (roughly 1825–1834). These were small-scale ventures by local businessmen that proved the ore was there but lacked the capital for deep mining.
  • The Dalzell Era (1850s): Pit No. 1 was one of the first "serious" deep shafts sunk specifically within the Dalzell family's estate. It coincided almost exactly with the arrival of the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway in 1854, which provided the necessary transport link.
  • The Montreal Colossus (1862): Shortly after Pit No. 1 was established, John Stirling began sinking the first shafts for the Montreal Mine. While Pit No. 1 was a pioneer, the Montreal complex eventually became the "giant," with its No. 1 shaft being one of the most productive in the entire district.

Technical and Site Details

  • ​Mineral Type: Haematite (Iron Ore). This area was unique because the ore was often found in "flats" or "sops" within the Carboniferous Limestone.
  • Depth: At a depth of 77 metres, the pit was part of a cluster of workings that followed the ore seams south from the prolific Montreal Mines.
  • Geological Significance: The site sits on the boundary where the Skiddaw Slates meet the limestone, a prime geological location for the deposition of iron-rich fluids.

​A Snapshot in Time: 1881–1882

Historical records, specifically the 1882 Inspector of Mines Report (C.3241), give us a vivid "snapshot" of this site during its peak.

At that time, the pit was the lifeblood of the village, operated by the Moor Row Mining Company under the management of James Dalzell. The workforce was a tight-knit community of 56 men:
  • ​42 men worked underground, chasing veins of high-grade haematite (iron ore) through the limestone.
  • 14 men worked on the surface, likely on the very spot where the gate stands today, sorting the ore for the waiting railway wagons.

​The Anatomy of the Mine

​The industrial "bones" of the mine are still visible. The Spoil heap is a permanent monument to the miners' toil. It consists of thousands of tons of limestone and shale - the waste material removed to get to the "Red Gold" beneath.

​Why the Pit Fell Silent

​Despite the high quality of its ore, Pit No. 1 was a "troublesome" operation. According to the 1885 Abandonment Plan (MET 423), the mine was defeated by two things: geology and water.
​
The haematite veins were frequently cut off by limestone "faults," and the cost of pumping water out of the shaft became too expensive to keep the business afloat. By the late 1880s, the winding engines stopped, and the site began its slow transition back into the landscape we see today.

🔍 Archive Deep Dive

To understand how the "Great Moor" transitioned from isolated farmsteads to an industrial powerhouse, explore the specific history of the Dalzell family's influence. This analysis covers the acquisition of mineral rights and the socio-economic changes that defined the village's expansion during the Victorian era.

The "Red Gold" Discovery

In the mid-19th century, the discovery of high-grade haematite iron ore beneath the "Great Moor" changed everything. This ore was prized for its purity and was essential for the Bessemer steel-making process. The Dalzell family, who owned the land, established Pit No. 1 to tap into these rich pockets of mineral wealth. This industrial activity led to the construction of the village's first residential terraces, such as Dalzell Street, to house a rapidly growing workforce.

A Melting Pot of Labour

The mine was a focal point for migration. Cornish miners, fleeing the decline of tin mining in the south-west, brought their expertise in hard-rock shaft sinking to Moor Row. They were joined by Irish labourers, creating a diverse community whose legacy survives in local street names like Penzance Street. Census records from the late 1800s show that many of these families lived within earshot of the Pit No. 1 winding engine.

The Role of Pit Ponies

Before full mechanisation, Pit No. 1 relied heavily on horsepower. Sturdy ponies lived in underground stables carved directly into the limestone. These animals hauled heavy "bogies" of ore from the working faces to the shaft bottom. On the surface, young boys - some as young as thirteen - worked as pony drivers, their clothes and skin permanently stained a deep rust-red by the haematite dust.

Decline and Nature’s Reclamation

By the turn of the 20th century, the easily accessible ore was exhausted. As the pumps were switched off, the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the site flooded. This created the "cankered" landscape visible today, where iron-rich water has surfaced to form reed beds and ponds. The uneven ground surrounding the water marks the remains of the Victorian spoil heaps, where waste rock was deposited over 150 years ago.

Feature Historical and Modern Context
Owner The Dalzell Family (Dalzell's Moor Row Mine)
Workforce Cornish shaft-sinkers and Irish labourers
Transport Linked to the Whitehaven, Cleator & Egremont Railway
Legacy Subsided wetland and iron-rich "cankered" pools

Many of the old shafts and open-cast workings in Moor Row eventually flooded once the pumps were turned off, creating the small ponds and wetland areas visible today.

​The area at Pit No. 1 is now a peaceful spot characterised by reeds (Typha) and scrubland, reclaimed by nature. Adjacent to the land is the nearby Coast to Coast path.

The reeds and standing water you see today are the result of the land being "cankered" by mine water. Once the massive beam engines (pumps) were stopped in the early 20th century, the hollowed-out "honeycomb" of tunnels beneath our feet flooded, leading to the wetland landscape that exists now.

​On the site, you will see small, scrub-covered mounds. These are not natural hills; they are spoil heaps (waste rock) from the sinking of the No. 1 shaft. If you were to look closely at the soil in these areas, you would find high concentrations of quartz and calcite, which were the common "waste" minerals brought up alongside the haematite.

​Railway Footings and Embankments

​The pit was intimately connected to the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway.

​The raised embankment just a few metres from the pit is the former rail bed. Near the intersection of the path and the old mine site, you can sometimes find the remains of sandstone block footings. These would have supported the small narrow-gauge tramways or "bogies" used to transport the ore from the pit head to the main line wagons.

Today, the site serves as a quiet reminder of the grit and ambition that defined the West Cumbrian iron industry.

  • Safety Note: While the general area is public and popular with walkers, the land at Pit No. 1 is private. Old West Cumbrian pits can be prone to sudden subsidence or "crown holes" due to the collapsing of old timbering deep underground. It is best to stay on the established paths.
A General View Of Moor Row Pit Number 1
A General View Of Pit Number 1
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

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