At Perry´s Dam above Nenthead
For a long time I wanted to have another visit to the old crosses above Nenthead. On the last day of the holiday I drove to Nenthead. I had a stop at Westgate to take a last photo of the Haymeadows (first photo). I parked the car in a small layby just before you descend into Nenthead. From there you can enter the mine compound and take the gravelled track towards Perry´s Dam. I was hoping to be able to climb further up from Perry´s Dam and cut across into the open moor to find the crosses.
On photo No 2 is Hilltop where Rosalind´s Mum was born. It is the second highest row of houses in England.
After I set off I met Terry Stout who I was together with a few days earlier to take photos of the Barn Owls at Groverake Mine. He was on his regular round with his dog. What a coincidence! We walked up to Perry´s Dam together.
Perry´s Dam supplied the big waterwheels in the mining area. It was built in 1847.It receives it´s water from a leat cut from the river Nent further upstream. It has a capacity of 8 million gallons (36 million litres) and is still kept full and intact by the local Mine conservation Trust.
After I said farewell to Terry I continued along the stone wall up the hill. The map shows the location of the crosses on the left of the stone wall just before you reach the top. Along the stone wall were some derelict grouse shooting butts with the numbers still on. At no. 11 I cut across to the left and eventually found the crosses. The view was great.
You can read about the history of the crosses in this article:
