Engine House To Former Lead Mine

The engine house to the former lead mine is an early 19th-century structure of Cornish type. The south face is made of tooled-and-margined stone, while the rest of the building is constructed from coursed rubble, featuring tooled-and-margined quoins and dressings. This square, tower-like building has three stages divided by chamfered set-backs. The south face includes a tall round-headed arch and the remains of a larger opening that has been later blocked above. There are several square-headed openings on the west side, including a square-headed doorway and a window in the gable. An attached building on the east has largely collapsed, leaving only a tall square chimney with a stepped six-stage stack. The engine, which pumped water from the Shildon lead mine, is known to have been operational by 1840. By the late 19th century, the engine house became disused and was modified to accommodate several families. It is now locally referred to as 'Shildon Castle'.