Early in the 19th century, Herodsfoot Mine was about 300ft deep, but its main active period was from 1847 to 1884. At first waterwheels were employed for pumping and hoisting but a 40-inch beam pumping engine was soon needed, and in 1864 that was replaced by a more powerful 60-inch. Six years later, the deepest levels were almost a thousand feet below the surface, and the workforce numbered 150. Early in the 1880s, part of the site appears to have been worked separately as North Herodsfoot mine.

Herodsfoot gets its own Church

In the 1840s, the little village of Herodsfoot became a boom town. There had been mining here for centuries but then engine houses and new shafts appeared on either side of the valley producing tons of lead and also some silver, copper and tungsten, all needed by the new factories in the Midlands.
Soon there were bunk-houses for the miners, four public houses, a school but no Church.

Then in the 1890s mining ceased and Herodsfoot became a rural village again.  But the mining past is not forgotten. On the hillsides can be seen the chimneys of the engine houses and  the Deerpark holiday cabins are built on the site of the gunpowder mill where the explosive charges were made for use in the mines. And All Saints Church is little changed since Victorian times.

Herodsfoot Today

The parish Church of All Saints is still used for worship every Sunday. This delightful Church is well worth a visit and is open every day of the year. There is always a friendly welcome at the services.

For more pictures and information about Herodsfoot visit Herodsfoot-online.

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