Swinnergill lead smelt mill, Swaledale. Picture added Sept. 2001. Picture courtesy of Barry Jones. N.B. Narrative and pictures are as of the times when the pictures were originally added (mostly 1997 to 2004). In 2021, things may look different; conditions, tracks and rights of way may have changed. Click on the Home button for more explanation. Getting there provided a walk through an area of distinctive beauty. Part of the way was the same as that to Beldi Hill. We gained considerable height both going to, and coming back from the smelter. We went up the side of a gorge/canyon on the Swale before turning off left at Crackpot Hall, to go down along the side of Swinnergill towards its source. We started at the village of Keld near the west end of Swaledale. At the end of the village was a well defined clear track which left to the right. We followed a track for a few hundred yards only, before it divided. One side claims the high ground but needed to bear left and made our way down to the Swale. The Swale here is very picturesque as it undercut the rocks, especially if viewed from the wooden bridge which we crossed, then we lingered to look at the waterfalls after crossing the bridge. We then skirted the falls going upwards at the left, then turned right to the track above them. Keeping right, we entered a track which gained height until it passeed a hill called Beldi Hill on the left, followed by a z- bend: <<<<here, where the track crosses Oldfield Hush. In the picture, the River Swale can just be glimpsed in the valley. Beldi Hill is behind the photographer. The truly energetic may want to climb the hush to workings and remains of dams higher up. If you make the journey here, the rugged beauty of the lower part of the massive Oldfield Hush is guaranteed and you might be fortunate to see such a beautiful sky as there was that day. Disregarding Oldfield Hush to follow the track further, there was considerable spoil from Crackpot Hall Mine Level and its dressing floors. There were also some old buldings. I believe the building nearer the track is Crackpot Hall. In May 1999, we observed that some maintenance work had been done here recently. Following the track which bears left, gaining height to go behind Crackpot Hall, the track then went in front of another building, the smithy with its forge still in place.The track soon turned left to meet a gate. We could see gill (Swinnergill) down in the valley on our right. At the gate, we paused to look up Swinnergill, for a glimpse of the Swinnergill mines and smelter complex, which are about a kilometre ahead. So far the route had been the same as when going to Beldi Hill Smelt Mill. On a later expedition, without specialist knowledge, I reached Swinnergill Mill by going down into the valley and following the stream up! I found it a tortuous and difficult route with no track but rocks and bog to contend with. It was no casual walk. So, on a later still occasion, I was delighted to be accompanied by Barry Jones and I was pleased that with his experience and knowledge of the area. He was able to showe me a route which keeps to a height around the edge of the valley. It was a "million times" easier. So much better! The Swinnergill smelter is at the east of Swinnergill near where Swinnergill is joined by its tributary, East Grain. We went through a gate and followed the track as it losing only a little height into the valley as we headed towards the valley head to meet this smelt mill. Thank you Barry for your guidance and some very interesting information on that day. The track soon turned left to meet a gate. We could see gill (Swinnergill) down in the valley on our right. At the gate, we paused to look up Swinnergill, for a glimpse of the Swinnergill mines and smelter complex, which are about a kilometre ahead. At left; in a picture from Barry Jones, the Swinnergill main level is seen at the left of the picture, below the falls. According to Arthur Raistrick: The Swinnergill mines had been in the hands of the London Lead Company before being acquired by Lord Pomfret and Peter Denys, becoming part of the A.D. Mines group. Arthur reported that the mill was likely founded in 1769. Swinnergill mill and mines were bound up in the Beldi Hill disputes. A witness in the trials is recorded saying that in Nov. 1769, he carried ore to the east side of swinnergill "where Lord Pomfret is now building a mill." Arthur Raistrick said that the working life of the mill may have spanned about 50 years evidenced by the fact that there are no returns for duty lead (the tax paid on production) after 1819. Ah But! Note that when I have quoted Arthur Raistrick, I have sometimes had his version of history disputed.