The You Are Here map is located on the Powder House information board at the Ecton Copper Mine site.
Ecton Hill is located in the Manifold Valley. It is a geological site that has been looked after by the National Trust since the 1940s.
Ecton Hill is a daleside of mixed grassland scrub and woodland, with fine examples of grassland plants. The area is very popular with walkers.
The area also has important, buildings related to the Ecton Copper mine.
"Ecton Hill’s geology of distorted limestone rock gave rise to it being the source of high-grade copper ore, unusual for the Peak District, which is historically known mainly as a source of lead ore.
Thanks to recent archaeological research we now know that copper was mined here as far back as the bronze age, it is one of only two confirmed Bronze Age copper mines in England; the other is at Alderley Edge.
The National Trust purchased the site from the estate of Geoff Cox, a mining engineer who bought the site and the old mine in the 1960s, having recognised its importance for mining history and geology.
The mine was most active during the 18th century when, under the ownership of the Dukes of Devonshire, great investment was made in new mining technology to exploit the extensive rich copper deposits within the hill. It became one of the richest copper mines in the world at the time.
As the mine became deeper, the Duke engaged Messrs Boulton and Watt to build a steam engine at the top of the shaft to lift the ore from the depths below.
This was completed in 1788 and the Engine House still stands and is thought to be the oldest mine-winding engine house in the world.
2019 marks the bicentenery of the year of death of James Watt. A major exhibition showcasing his work is on display at the library of Birmingham and a programme of events are happening throughout 2019. More details can be found at www.jameswatt2019.org "
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The Powder House is a small building that is sited some distance away from the main workings of the mine.
The 'you are here map' is located in the bottom left hand corner of the National Trust information board.
The information board mounted on the building gives the following information;
Welcome to Ecton Copper Mine
This little building ......is the Powder House.
It played a very important role at Ecton Copper Mine. Built a safe distance from the workers, it was lined with wooden panels and stored "black powder" - gunpowder. This powder house was built in 1884, and it must have replaced an earlier store elsewhere on the hill.
Ecton Copper Mine was one of the first places in the country to use black powder underground in the 1660s. Miners would use hammers and chisels to drill holes in the hard limestone rock to fill with gunpowder and blast their way into the hill.
A little further up the hill is the Engine House, where you can stand on top of the main mine shaft, once the deepest in Britain!
To find out more, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-peak
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