Allen Mill - Circa 1890

A postcard view of the Beaumont’s smelt mill at Allen Mill. Mainly constructed 1835-40, by 1847 it comprised two calcining furnaces, six roasting furnaces, nine ore-hearths, two reverberatory furnaces, one reducing furnace, four refining furnaces, one slag hearth and a separating house with 18 Pattinson pots. Later the smelt mill was connected to the nearby Hexham … read more

Carrshield - Circa 1910

Carrshield Church – built from donations by the Beaumont family for the families of their the lead mining employees in 1822. It was demolished in the 1950s.

Allenheads - 1908

Postcard showing Huntwell – built for Thomas Sopwith between c. 1860 and c.1870. Sopwith was mining agent for W.B. Lead Mines from 1841 to his retirement in 1871. In the top right corner of the photograph is Coating Hill.

Allenheads - Circa 1990

Killhope Lead mine – building and water wheel. Work started on the Horse Level of Park Level Mine in 1853 and closed around 1910. For a few short years in the 1870s, the mine at Killhope was one of the richest in the whole of Britain. To help separate out the lead ore from waste, … read more

Allendale (East Allen) - 1989

The ‘old’ chimney (built c.1808) pictured before its partial collapse in 1990 after being being hit by lightning.

Allendale (East Allen) - 1994

The ‘old’ chimney (constructed c.1808) on Dryburn Moor pictured after its partial collapse in 1990 after a lightning storm.

Spartylea - Circa 1920

Tedham Wesleyan Chapel was on the roadside at Spartylea. It was built in 1862 but demolished before the first World War, the stone being used for local buildings.

Keenley - Circa 2000

Keenley Wesleyan Chapel has managed to survive – still in use in 2001. Built in 1750 after John Wesley’s visit to Keenley, it was later rebuilt in 1875.

Allendale Town - Circa 1903

The Riding – at that time the residence of James Walton (1850-1918), his wife Betsy (1852-1925) and daughter Isabella (1881-1958).

Allendale Square - Circa 1963

Allendale village centre in the 1960s, viewed from the ‘Island’/’Bullring’. Note the scales stood at the doorway of the Post Office – at that time run by Billy and Nancy Fairlamb.

Thornley Gate - 1955

‘Ashleigh’ was built as a private house by Mr Matthew Lee, who inherited wealth from family ownership in Ashington Colliery. Hence, ‘Ash-Lee’. It was turned into a hotel in the 1950s, and later a residential care home.