Greenside Mine is one of the world’s most famous mines and this talk will describe its rich history mainly through original photographs from when the mine was working. Travelling from its earliest proven date, to re-opening in 1820, continuously working until 1962, including its connection with the American Civil War, building the village of Glenridding, the first UK metal mine to have an underground electric locomotive and winding engine using hydro electricity in the early 1890’s, always using the most up to date technology, the dam burst in 1927, the only source of lead in the Second World War, its place in World History in the late 1950’s, impact on the local area over 140 years. The ongoing work which may determine if the Romans mined there.

The talk is from a personal viewpoint having family who worked at the mine with anecdotes of people who worked there.

About the speaker

Warren Allison is from a long-standing mining family on his mother’s side who were copper miners and quarrymen at Coniston in the early 1800’s. His Great Great Grandfather, who was a tailor, moved to Glenridding in the mid 1850’s with his sons and subsequent family including Warren’s mother going to work at Greenside. The family still have a house in Glenridding.

He is currently an Environmental manager at a large food manufacturing company in Carlisle but describes Greenside as his favourite place. He is Chair of the Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society, a charity formed in 1979 dedicated to the better understanding & preservation of historic mining sites (above and below ground) in Cumbria. His passion has been mining for 55 years and has been involved in discoveries in the Lake District of international importance; you could say mining is in his blood.