Bishopfield Wood

The river flowing away from Allendale Town in the vicinity of Bishopfield Haugh.

The house lies to the south of the River East Allen: It's unclear whether the name Bridge Eal applies specifically to the house or the general location. The property has a public footpath running along the garden path. Attached to the entrance was a notice asking that due to current Covid 19 situation, would walkers consider taking an alternative route than the one passing through the garden. The request was made most politely and didn't seek to deny access. A detour involved a change of route to be measured only in tens of metres and so we were content to make it.

Chapel House is behind the camera position. The image was recorded from a path which crosses the road, and is now part of the route of the Isaac Tea Trail. Use of the road by walkers is obviously unwelcome!

The war memorial is to the men of Keenley and Broadside where the small population is dispersed and there is no focal point of a settlement; that explains the isolated location of the memorial beside the road at Burn Tongues.

The farm at Frolar Meadows lies to the south of a minor road west of Allendale Town. These are the outbuildings of the farm.

The Oakeydean Burn lies to the right, out of the image. The notice at the side of the lane gives information about the Allendale smelt mill flues which crossed at about this location.

On the road from Hexham to Allendale town. Sturdy stone cottages with substantial front gardens.

Sculpture of St Cuthbert by former Allendale resident, Charles Sansbury (1916-1989) given to the church by his family in 2014.

The design and manufacture of this information board (and others installed in Allenheads) are described here: Differentia: Link Archive Link Bob Marshall 3D Illustrator: Link Archive Link

Water-Wheel Pit "This is the pit for the over-shot water-wheel used here at Allen Mill. The weight and force of moving water cause a wheel to move, which in turn moves machinery by means of belts or gears. The water for the wheel at Allen Mill came from as far away as Weardale. The water was collected in reservoirs and underground systems to finally enter the smelt mill from the south, just above where the current 'SAM' is located. The water for an over-shot water-wheel arrives in-line with and passes over the top of the wheel. The mechanical efficiency of an over-shot water-wheel is estimated to be 68% compared with that of an under-shot water-wheel (where the water passes under the wheel) which is thought to be only 35%. The water-wheel at Allen Mill was used to drive the machinery to crush the ore and provide the air blast for the furnaces." Link Archive Link

The remains of a ore hearth smelt mill and a reverberatory smelt mill, as well as an extensive system of flues. Much of the smelt mill has been levelled, but a broad retaining bank at the rear of the smelt mill site contains the remains of several stone structures revetted into the slope. Some of these structures are interpreted as a series of bouse teams and the remains of a condensing chamber and a flue opening. A building on the north side of the smelt mill complex, was constructed partly on the site of the original Pattison building, a retains its roof form. This was a 19th century silver smelter. Horizontal flues, which run between the smelt mill furnaces and their chimneys, were constructed during the 19th century. The first flue, which was begun in 1808, runs from the south end of the smelt mill and follows the south side of the B6295 before turning west towards Cleugh Head where it originally terminated. On construction of the second flue in 1853 it is thought that the first was extended south and then south-west to Flow Moss. The second flue emerges from the south-western side of the smelt mill and crossed over the adjacent road on what is thought to have been a bridge. The flue continued south-west on a more direct route to the chimneys on Flow Moss. There are two chimneys on Flow Moss. The most southerly chimney, into which both flues pass, has undergone consolidation, and is visible as a well preserved structure 7 metres in diameter. The most northerly chimney, 40 metres north of the first, stands 25 metres high and 4 metres in diameter. The smelt mill was closed in 1896. Historic England List Entry 1016817: Link Allen Lead Smelt Mill on Pastscape: Link Archive Link Allen Smelt Mill, flue system and chimneys: Link Hexham Courant - 24 October 2016: Link 3D reconstruction: Link Archive Link ChronicleLive (2018): Link Archive Link

The remains of a ore hearth smelt mill and a reverberatory smelt mill, as well as an extensive system of flues. Much of the smelt mill has been levelled, but a broad retaining bank at the rear of the smelt mill site contains the remains of several stone structures revetted into the slope. Some of these structures are interpreted as a series of bouse teams and the remains of a condensing chamber and a flue opening. A building on the north side of the smelt mill complex, was constructed partly on the site of the original Pattison building, a retains its roof form. This was a 19th century silver smelter. Horizontal flues, which run between the smelt mill furnaces and their chimneys, were constructed during the 19th century. The first flue, which was begun in 1808, runs from the south end of the smelt mill and follows the south side of the B6295 before turning west towards Cleugh Head where it originally terminated. On construction of the second flue in 1853 it is thought that the first was extended south and then south-west to Flow Moss. The second flue emerges from the south-western side of the smelt mill and crossed over the adjacent road on what is thought to have been a bridge. The flue continued south-west on a more direct route to the chimneys on Flow Moss. There are two chimneys on Flow Moss. The most southerly chimney, into which both flues pass, has undergone consolidation, and is visible as a well preserved structure 7 metres in diameter. The most northerly chimney, 40 metres north of the first, stands 25 metres high and 4 metres in diameter. The smelt mill was closed in 1896. Historic England List Entry 1016817: Link Allen Lead Smelt Mill on Pastscape: Link Archive Link Allen Smelt Mill, flue system and chimneys: Link Hexham Courant - 24 October 2016: Link 3D reconstruction: Link Archive Link ChronicleLive (2018): Link Archive Link

The remains of a ore hearth smelt mill and a reverberatory smelt mill, as well as an extensive system of flues. Much of the smelt mill has been levelled, but a broad retaining bank at the rear of the smelt mill site contains the remains of several stone structures revetted into the slope. Some of these structures are interpreted as a series of bouse teams and the remains of a condensing chamber and a flue opening. A building on the north side of the smelt mill complex, was constructed partly on the site of the original Pattison building, a retains its roof form. This was a 19th century silver smelter. Horizontal flues, which run between the smelt mill furnaces and their chimneys, were constructed during the 19th century. The first flue, which was begun in 1808, runs from the south end of the smelt mill and follows the south side of the B6295 before turning west towards Cleugh Head where it originally terminated. On construction of the second flue in 1853 it is thought that the first was extended south and then south-west to Flow Moss. The second flue emerges from the south-western side of the smelt mill and crossed over the adjacent road on what is thought to have been a bridge. The flue continued south-west on a more direct route to the chimneys on Flow Moss. There are two chimneys on Flow Moss. The most southerly chimney, into which both flues pass, has undergone consolidation, and is visible as a well preserved structure 7 metres in diameter. The most northerly chimney, 40 metres north of the first, stands 25 metres high and 4 metres in diameter. The smelt mill was closed in 1896. Historic England List Entry 1016817: Link Allen Lead Smelt Mill on Pastscape: Link Archive Link Allen Smelt Mill, flue system and chimneys: Link Hexham Courant - 24 October 2016: Link 3D reconstruction: Link Archive Link ChronicleLive (2018): Link Archive Link

The plaque to the right of the entrance is shown here: NY8356 : Plaque re the Blackett Level.

WB Lead's Blackett Level Project was designed to explore lead veins along the East Allen valley and also to provide drainage of the mines at Allenheads. From its entrance in Allendale, shafts along its proposed course were opened at Studdon, Holms Linn, Sipton and Bracken Holm. Sinking of the shaft at Holms Linn at the hands of its chief engineer, Thomas Sopwith, commenced in 1855. The portal at Allendale was constructed four years later, in 1859. The accuracy of planning of the level was demonstrated as a pin-hole of light from the entrance could be seen near Holms Linn, two miles distant. The project eventually proved to be a failure as the level never reached Allenheads, and apart from an area at Sipton, few profitable deposits of lead-ore were discovered. In addition, cheap sources of lead from overseas in the late 19th century made home production of lead relatively uneconomic. Blackett Level in Allendale: Link Archive Link

The Tea Rooms, a 5-bedroom town-house, is currently for sale at a guide price of £325,000 (2022).