“On the north side of Cronkley Fell, in Upper Teesdale, is a ruined stone building where shale was worked and made into slate pencils (that is to say, pencils used in the nineteenth century for writing on slates). Kendall and Wroot in Geology of Yorkshire (p 827) state that pre-Devonian shale was thrust up here by the Burtreeford Dyke fault. This explains the isolated situation of the mill, for such a suitable shale is not otherwise to be found in the region. The Darlington Half-Holiday Guide says that the mill was already deserted by 1890.

The Walls stand only 2 or 3ft above ground but it appears from the ruins that there was a wheel pit, a large workshop and small store. Two small millstones which were lying in front of the building have now been collected by the Regional open Air Museum.“

Public Footpath.