Government House has shared pictures of Sir John and Lady Lorimer exploring Bradda Mines.
uided by experts from the Laxey Mines Research Group, they negotiated the same treacherous cliffside path that the miners themselves would have taken 150 years ago.
Inside the mine they navigated the labyrinth of tunnels, gaining an insight into the extraordinarily tough existence it would have been for those Manx miners.
Government House said: “It was fascinating to hear about the history of copper mining in the Island in the 19th century, and to see what remains of the various engineering structures, adits and tunnels.
“The North and South Bradda Mines were worked in three periods, dating back to the Bronze Age when they were mined for copper and lead. In the 12th century, it was worked by the Cistercian monks of Furness Abbey, who set up their daughter house at Rushen Abbey.
“From 1840, the site was worked right up to the turn of the century and stopped when the vein became uneconomic.
“From the top of the cliffs to the depths of the mines, it was an amazing experience. Thank you to the team at Laxey Mines Research Group for their guidance and attention to detail on safety during the visit.”
4 Comments