Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
You don’t need to go to Turkey to see hundreds of hot air balloons rising.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Find the Most Unusual Festivals in the U.S.?
about 12 hours ago
Located in Indianola, Mississippi, Club Ebony hosted performances by blues legends like B.B. King.
How Club Ebony Helped Keep the Blues Alive in the Jim Crow South
about 12 hours ago
Spot Gentoos and other species of penguins waddling, swimming, and diving from icebergs.
Adventure at Sea: An Explorer’s Guide to Antarctica
about 21 hours ago
Our journey begins in Texas—more specifically in Big Bend National Park.
The Atlas Obscura (Audio) Guide to the National Parks
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Derbyshire Horse-Powered Ore Crusher

Horse-Powered Ore Crusher

These crude contraptions were used to aid in the mining of lead, silver and gold.

Derbyshire, England

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The crushing stone   Mike Peel
The crushing stone   Mike Peel
Remains of the ore crusher with iron ring and iron bound crushig stone   Ashley Dace
Schematic of how the ore crusher was used   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The crusher was used in the Odin lead mine   Mike Peel
The old Odin Mine entrance and surrounding countryside   Image capture Jul 2009
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There is an old lead mine in the Peak District National Park of central England, just outside of the town of Castleton. Known as the Odin Mine, it’s surrounded by the most exquisite pastoral landscapes. Nestled in the countryside near the mine’s entrance is this contraption, known as a crushing circle.

Although the mine itself may be as old as the Roman era (opinions on its age differ), the crushing circle wasn’t constructed until 1823. These systems were commonly used in metal mining at the time, a somewhat crude—yet very effective—method of facilitating the separation of the valuable metal ores to from the rest of the junk minerals (called gangue). 

The way it worked was simple—a heavy stone was carved round, and bound in iron. It was then pulled around a ring of iron by a horse, as ore was fed under the stone. The ore was pulverized by the weight, and the pressing of iron against iron would separate the contituents of the raw material which would then be hand sorted or separated in water using differential settlement,  allowing for the smelting of the metals.

The Odin Mine is quite deep, at one time extending nearly a third of a mile into the hillside. It hasn’t been active since the early 20th century, and what remains of the cavern is now unstable and prone to dangerous collapse. You can still see the entrance, but investigating further in is not advised.   

Around the site you’ll also find a range of plants, called metallophytes, that have evolved to tolerate the lead and other heavy metals in the soil. Some metallophyes actually require the lead to flower. Talk about lemonade from lemons.  

Related Tags

Mines Caves Mechanical Instruments Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

The old mine and crushing circle is just outside of the village of Castleton, near Mam Tor in the High Peak of Derbyshire, England, between Sheffield and Manchester. It is currently owned by the National Trust.

To get to the circle, follow the A6187 (Buxton Road) west out of Castleton towards Chapel-en-le-Frith. Just outside of town bear right and follow what is known as the old Mam Tor Road, but is actually officially “unnamed”. In about a mile you’ll pass the turn-off for the Treak Cliff Cavern, and continue for another half mile. You’ll see the small National Trust sign for the Circle on your left. It’s easy to miss, so follow the GPS lat/long to find the spot. Parking should be easy at the pull-off along the road.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Published

September 22, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin_Mine
  • http://www.derbyshireheritage.co.uk/Menu/Archaeology/Mines/Lead/odin-mine.php
  • http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMNKY4_Crushing_Circle_Odin_Mine_Castleton_Derbyshire
Horse-Powered Ore Crusher
Unnamed Road
(off Buxton Road)
Derbyshire, England
United Kingdom
53.348016, -1.79974
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Blue John Cavern

Derbyshire, England

miles away

Winnats Pass

Derbyshire, England

miles away

Peak Cavern's Rope Factory

Castleton, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Derbyshire

Derbyshire

England

Places 20

Nearby Places

Blue John Cavern

Derbyshire, England

miles away

Winnats Pass

Derbyshire, England

miles away

Peak Cavern's Rope Factory

Castleton, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Derbyshire

Derbyshire

England

Places 20

Related Places

  • Entrance to the ice cave at Bixby State Preserve.

    Edgewood, Iowa

    Ice Cave of Bixby State Preserve

    Chilly air billows out from the entrance of an abandoned mine on a steep hillside, providing a refuge for Ice Age fauna and flora.

  • Äventyrsgruvan Tuna-Hästberg (Tuna-Hästberg Adventure Mine)

    Borlänge V, Sweden

    Äventyrsgruvan Tuna-Hästberg (Tuna-Hästberg Adventure Mine)

    A centuries-old iron mine is now a paradise for explorers, divers, and spelunkers.

  • Tomnadashan Copper Mine.

    Perth and Kinross, Scotland

    Tomnadashan Mine

    Monty Python fans will recognize this abandoned mine as the Cave of the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog.

  • Rope making equipment in the cave mouth, looking out.

    Castleton, England

    Peak Cavern's Rope Factory

    Some of England's last cave dwellers lived and worked within this huge cave.

  • “The Umbrella” at the base of the gorge

    Şuşa, Azerbaijan

    Hunot Gorge

    A scenic canyon with thick forests and historic ruins.

  • Pekelné Doly, or “Mines of Hell,” motorcycle club.

    Cvikov, Czechia

    Pekelné Doly (Mines of Hell)

    The largest manmade caves in Europe now function as a motorbike club's headquarters.

  • Cell phone light trails illuminating the caves of Mønsted Kalkgruber.

    Stoholm, Denmark

    Mønsted Kalkgruber

    Nearly 40 miles and 1,000 years of limestone mines under Denmark.

  • Bounce Below

    Gwynedd, Wales

    Llechwedd Caverns Trampoline Park

    A subterranean playground in an abandoned slate mine.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.