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Once the lead ore was found it was brought to the surface, broken up, sorted and washed. John Farey noted how it was done in 1811.
“The Ore and Spar from Lead Mines is drawn to the surface in small barrels or Kibbles by Men, or in larger geer Barrels by Horse-Gins, which are attended by a Gin-driver, who stops his Horse or Horses, when the Barrel is arrived at top of the Shaft, and the Striker then lands, unhooks, and empties the contents, on to the Striking-floor, and having again hooked on the empty geer-barrel, he proceeds to sort the Stuff or Bowse into three parts, viz. Knockings, Ridlings or Picking-stones, and Fell, the latter being what passes through an inch iron wire Sieve or Riddle, in which the Ridlings or Picking-stones remain. The Knockings, which are large pieces of Spar or Stone, most of them with Ore intermixed or adhering, are put into a barrow, and wheeled to the Bank, the Ridlings are emptied into the swiller and picker Women’s Whiskets, or wooden Hoppets, brought and set near to the Striking-floor for that purpose, and the Fell he removes to the Fell-heap near, by which means the Striking-floor is again clear, and ready for the next geer-barrel.
The Women (or Men) called Swillers, have a large tub, which they call the Swilling Tub, nearly filled with water, and a Riddle or iron wire Sieve with inch openings, having handles projecting above the sides or rim of the Riddle; into which Riddle she puts a quantity of Ridlings from the Striking-floor, and having sunk the sieve into the Swilling Tub, she gives a twisting and brisk motion to it, as she holds it by the handles, by which operation the dirt is washed off the Ridlings, and sinks in the Swilling Tub; but sometimes the washing is performed in a square wooden trough, called a Standing-buddle, in which the Ridlings or Fell are stirred by a spade. The washed Ridlings are then turned over on to the Picking-board, which is usually an old Door supported on Trussels like a Table, and Women, called Pickers, there sort over the Ridlings, and pick out the clean pieces of Ore, and put them into the Ore-whisket.”
Taken from J. Farey, A General View of the Agriculture and Minerals of Derbyshire. Volume 1 1811
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