C.B. lead melt mill, 0/w New Mill. Langthwaite, Arkengarthdale. 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. Location. C.B. Lead Smelt Mill was located near the road, in Arkengarthdale. To find C.B. Mill when coming out of Swaledale from Reeth, take the Reeth- Langthwaite-Tan Hill road which heads through Arkengarthdale. At Langthwaite, you will pass the C.B. (Charles Bathurst) Inn on your right. Following this you will pass the junction for Barnard Castle also on your right. By now you will be able to see the remains of C.B. Mill, just ahead to the left side of the road. C.B. Mill gets its name from its founder, Charles Bathurst. The mill is also known as New Mill at Langthwaite. This differentiates it from the earlier mill at Langthwaite, The Octagon. The Octagon is closely linked with C.B. Mill both geographically and physically. C.B. Mill shared its flue with Octagon Lead Smelt Mill. Octagon is just across the road. By peering over the wall at that side, you will be able to see the outline of the foundations of the Octagon lead smelter (smelt mill). You will also see breaks in the twin flues which come from Octagon before the flues go under the road to run up to join with the C.B. flue. C.B. Mill may well have been completed around 1824. In the picture below is the place where the flue from C.B. joined the pre-existing flue from Octagon. The picture was taken looking back down the hill. Farther uphill the flue splits to go two different ways and yet join yet again farther up the hill.In the front foreground of the picture at right, is the broken flue from C.B. and Octagon. The picture was taken looking back down the hill. Farther uphill the flue splits to go two different ways and join yet again farther up the hill. Another junction in the flue. In this picture, the flue snakes its way uphill towards the old Chert Mines and Moulds Top. Another junction in the flue. In the front foreground of the picture below, is the broken flue from C.B. and Octagon. In the central part of the picture the flue can be seen wending its way diagonally uphill. Up there is a region where the all traces of the flue have disappeared because of the operation of Chert mines. Chert is a stone which used to make grindstones for grinding a paste used to make fine porcelain. The Chert workings themselves have had a part in creating the present character of the area. Near Langthwaite is Moulds Mine. The mine was once very productive. There was a considerable plateau of spoil in front of the entrance. To find the entrance, go to Langthwaite village and take the road for Feetham. You will see a place where there are heaps of spoil (from Moulds) at both sides of the road. Immediately after this, take the track going sharp back on the right. You will see Moulds mine entrance on your left. Just above it, is an even older lead working, Dodgsons Hush. See the hush in the picture, the cleft with trees at each side of it. Link to the page on the Cobscar Smelt Mill >>>