Ancient mine workings dating back possibly over a century prior to a visit in 1725. These workings focused on two parallel lodes containing iron and copper, which were exploited through a combination of open-cast mining and underground excavation. Notably, the Cleft Rock, which is still marked as such on current Ordnance Survey maps, features a deep crevice splitting the rock in two, known locally as ‘Azel’.
The mine, known then as Haswell Mine, was dormant in 1763 when it was put up for sale. By 1765, it appeared on maps as the Hazel Mine. Operations during this period primarily involved adit and shaft work.
