Mining Families

Lead wasn't the only export from the North Pennines. Over the years when lead was king, and mining was pretty well the only source of employment, many hundreds of dalesmen and women left their native hills in search of a better life elsewhere.

They walked to Liverpool and sailed to the United States and Canada, often forming little colonies of dales people in new lands. Others went to Australia or Alaska in search of gold. When the lead industry collapsed in the late 1870's, many sailed away to New Zealand, lured by promises of land and jobs. Others left to work in the coalfields of Durham.

Killhope gives a unique insight into the lives of lead mining families, and we welcome descendants of those hardy folk who come to see how their ancestors lived.

If your ancestors came from the North Pennines, a visit to Killhope will help you understand their lives.

We welcome family history material to add to our archive, and to help others doing similar research.

Visit the North Pennine Ancestors website for more family history information.

Also see the resources on our school visits pages.