Magpie Mine is a disused lead mine, standing one third of a mile south of the village of Sheldon. Now used as a Field Centre by the Peak District Mines Historical Society, it has an interesting and somewhat murky past.
The mine has a recorded history from 1739, but it dates back much further and is said locally to be over 300 years old. Protracted troubles broke out in the early 19th century between the miners of Magpie, Maypitts and Red Soil mines. The dispute revolved around a vein of lead, and at various times the miners broke through into each other's workings. Often when this occurred one side would light a fire underground and try to smoke the other out. Tragically, in 1833, three Red Soil miners were suffocated to death by a fire lit by the Magpie miners.
Following a year in prison and a lengthy court case at Derby Assizes, five Magpie miners were acquitted of the charge of murder owing to conflicting evidence and the lack of intent. The three widows of the Red Soil miners reputedly put a curse on the mine and supposedly a ghost was seen there in 1946.
In 1842, there were two further deaths at Magpie Mine and during the next 50 years it was dogged by problems caused by flooding and fire. After a period of inactivity several attempts were made to revive the mine, the last in the1950s. However, in 1958, the constant battle with flooding and falling lead prices forced its closure. It is now scheduled as an ancient monument, and is the most complete example of a lead mine remaining in the Peak District.
