Sulwath Connections

Kirroughtree Lade Trail

Partner:

• Forestry Commission Scotland

Lead ore was discovered by chance in 1763 when the local stretch of the military road from Carlisle to Portpatrick was being constructed along an existing cart track at Kirroughtree.

Following this discovery extensive prospecting and exploration was undertaken in the Kirroughtree area via hand dug adits into the hill side in order to locate the main vein, which fortuitously was found to lie alongside the military road. Following this confirmation, lead, zinc and copper ores were extracted using a network of adits and vertical shafts. Small quantities of silver were also extracted from the lead ore by further smelting.

Bruntis Loch was constructed by damming the Bruntis Burn and a lade was constructed to carry water from the loch to the mill where the ores were washed.

The lade consisted of an earthen or stone lined trench and a collecting pool adjacent to the mill area. The former lade trench remains virtually completely in tact. This project will enable us to achieve the following;

• Clear the vegetation from either side of the lade
• Repair damaged sections of the lade walls
• Surface the lade to enable visitors to walk along the channel
• Provide on site interpretation about Bruntis Loch and its dam, lade, holding pond, mill, shafts and adits and the mining history of the area

This project will link in well with the existing network of recreation facilities at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, which include forest walks, 7 stanes mountain bike trails and skills area, children's adventure play area, all abilities trail, forest classroom and pond dipping platform.

This facility will interpret this fascinating part of the local industrial history as well as add interest to the area for visitors and also provide a valuable additional educational resource for local schools and colleges.