Snailbeach Mine

About the museum

Snailbeach was one of the main lead mines of the Shropshire hills. Lead ore (galena) was the chief product, with some zinc blende at depth and a little barytes at the end. The Romans probably took lead here, and mining continued almost without a break until 1955. In the 1850s about 500 men worked at the mine.

A narrow gauge railway from Pontesbury reached Snailbeach in 1877. Pumping stopped in 1911 and the deeper workings flooded, but small-scale barytes mining carried on in the dry upper areas until 1955. The site then stood derelict until the mid-1980s, and reclamation began in the mid-1990s.

The unfenced site belongs to Shropshire Council and is looked after day to day by the volunteers of the Shropshire Mines Trust. One building was re-roofed and fitted out as a visitor centre in 1998, and in 1997 the mine was made a Scheduled Monument. Visitors can walk round the buildings, follow self-guided trails and join guided trips underground when volunteers are available.

Highlights

• Scheduled Monument with well-preserved mine buildings and headgear
• Visitor centre with displays, a short film and books
• Short underground trips into the Day Level
• Longer guided tours of Perkins Level
• Three self-guided surface trails

Permanent exhibitions

• Visitor centre – Displays on the history of the mine, a short film and books for sale in a re-roofed mine building.
• Day Level underground trip – A short guided trip into the Day Level from the visitor centre on open days.

Operated by

Shropshire Mines Trust (site owned by Shropshire Council)

Admission & discounts

Walking round the unfenced site is free. The £4 adult ticket covers the short Day Level underground trip from the visitor centre, bought on arrival. Perkins Level tours run on the first Sunday of the month from June to October and must be booked. Private tours cost a minimum of £75. Parking is by donation.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A few disabled parking spaces are next to the visitor centre. A trolley is available to push visitors along the Day Level. The Perkins Level tour involves wet, uneven ground and needs wellington boots. Toilets are only in the village hall car park.

Kids & families

Perkins Level tours are not suitable for children under 5. Under-16 tickets are cheaper.

Getting there & parking

The mine is about 11 miles south-west of Shrewsbury and 1.5 miles off the A488. Look for the brown tourist sign at Plox Green.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The visitor centre sells books. Public toilets are in the village hall car park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit