The river was at the heart of the Lead mining industry for several hundred years. Several mine shafts can be accessed from the path along the river ...... although most are blocked off for safety reasons there are one or two that you can get a short way into.
Evidence of the lead mines is evident right through the valley..... and as the sides get steeper these weirs with sluces apppear every few hundred yards.
More evidence of the mining is seen here ..... its the remains of a building which housed a steam pump for pumping water out of the mines. The building formed part of Mandale Mine which was the most important mine in the area and was mined from the 13th century until 1871.
More info on Lathkill dale.
http://www.cressbrook.co.uk/features/lathkill.php
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