The road to Blanchland Moor is not paved with gold but lead, at least bits of it here and there.

I walk up here quite often and see something different every time. The recent rains must have washed off dust and mud from the track and exposed this lead mining waste.

Nearby are two mine shafts and there are others between here and Shildon Engine House. I guess the levels would have been driven more than a mile as far as the moor, with shafts for materials or ventilation.

https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/768/938/192/475/692/original/4e8daa775bd723be.jpg
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/768/964/645/450/549/original/198b53a610944543.jpg