Clive Mine

Clive copper mine, situated just north of Shrewsbury, is the largest known copper mine in Shropshire, yet on the surface there's virtually nothing left to see. The only clue to previous mining operations lies in the name of a nearby dwelling, "Mine House".

The frequent small shafts and presence of several small hand-picked levels suggests that the mine started as a series independant workings, before later mining enlarged the void and connected the small concerns together. In 1862 the Clive Copper Mining Company Ltd was formed to buy the site, three years later in 1865 the lease was sold to the New Clive Mining Company Ltd. By 1869 the company was struggling to find ore and decided to sell it's equipment.

The mine consists of two levels. The upper workings are situated just below ground level and contain passageways up to 30ft high, whilst the lower workings are much smaller, in some cases little more than a flat out crawl. The two sections of the mine are connected by a 70ft vertical shaft.