Lead Mining Museum and Wanlockhead Beam Engine

The Museum of Lead Mining is set in the picturesque village of Wanlockhead, the highest village in Scotland. A visit to the Museum can include a trip down the 18th century lead mine, a drift mine set deep in the hillside. At the Straitsteps Cottages you can see how the miners really lived in1750, 1850 and 1910. At the Visitor Centre, discover a fantastic display of rocks, minerals, gold, mining and local artefacts. Explore the Miner’s Library – the second oldest subscription library in Europe – which contains a collection Recognised as being of National Significance. Founded in 1756, the collection consists of 2800 works.

Close to the museum you can visit the only reasonably complete water-powered beam pumping machine in Britain: Wanlockhead Beam Engine, which was built in about 1870 to pump water from the Straitsteps lead mine beneath it. It was in action for about 40 years, until around 1910.

Lead Mining Museum and Wanlockhead Beam Engine
ML12 6UT Wanlockhead Village
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1659 - 74387
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