Rights Managed > Historic England > Industry > Extraction
Florence Iron Mine DP223656
Filename: DP233656.jpg
Size: 5792 x 8688 (12.2MB)
Date: 28th September 2021
Source: Historic England
Credit: A© Historic England Archive, Alu
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Urgency (1-8) 5=normal: 5
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: https://images.historicenglandservices.org.uk/
Job Title: Staff Photographer
© Historic England Archive
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Florence Iron Mine DP223656
Florence Mine, Little Mill, St. John Beckermet, Copeland, Cumbria. General view of the disused iron mine site from the south-west, with a puddle of ochre water in the foreground.
Sunk in 1914 it was worked worked with the Ullcoat Mine from 1917 until 1968 following Nationalisation. Beckermet Mines (part of British Steel Corp) took it over in 1969 for Workington Steel works which closed in 1980 as part of their rationalisation process. Egremont Mining Co. was set up by redundant workers to make it the last deep working iron ore mine in Europe, but it closed in 2007 due to the cost of water pumping
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 23838434
© Historic England Archive
Industrial Mine Decline Dereliction Ironstone Mineshaft
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the haunting beauty of the Florence Iron Mine, located in Little Mill, St. John Beckermet, Copeland, Cumbria. From a southwest perspective, the disused iron mine site unfolds before our eyes with an air of melancholy and nostalgia. In the foreground lies a puddle of ochre water, its vibrant hue contrasting against the desolate surroundings. The history behind this once-thriving mine is as fascinating as it is tragic. Sunk in 1914 and later worked alongside Ullcoat Mine from 1917 until 1968 under Nationalisation, it fell into the hands of Beckermet Mines (part of British Steel Corp) in 1969 for Workington Steel works. However, due to rationalization efforts within the company, these operations ceased in 1980. Yet hope flickered briefly when Egremont Mining Co. , established by redundant workers themselves, breathed life back into this historic site—making it Europe's last deep working iron ore mine. Unfortunately, financial constraints forced its closure in 2007 primarily due to exorbitant costs associated with water pumping. Through Alun Bull's lens and Historic England's preservation efforts through this print capture not only a moment frozen in time but also pays homage to an industry that shaped communities and lives throughout generations. It serves as a poignant reminder of both human resilience and nature's reclamation—a testament to how even abandoned places can possess their own unique allure amidst decline and dereliction.
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