Ballycorus Lead Smelting Works
c1807 The lead mine opened at Ballycorus, Co. Dublin, Ireland when a vein of lead was found within the a hill.
The tall lead mine tower, still standing today is the only example left in Ireland, regarded as one of the finest examples built in the UK or Ireland.
1826 Taken over by Mining Company of Ireland (MCI) who owned and operated the site up until closure in 1913. After the mine was exhausted in the 1863, Ballycorus continued to operate as a smelting facility receiving ore from other MCI sites such as the mines in Glendalough, County Wicklow.[1]
The mined lead was predominantly used in making roofing and piping components for suburban housing construction. Designed to carry the poisonous lead fumes into the atmosphere, the tower was originally one third taller than it is now. Despite this the mortality rate in the area was high and became nicknamed "Death Valley".[2]
See Also
- An Irishman's Diary, Aug 22, 2005 (www.irishtimes.com)
- A Tour of the abandoned Lead Mines near Kiltiernan & Rathmichael in County Dublin. (YouTube).