A podcast on the environmental history of the soughs of the mining areas of the Peak District…

Under the Peak District […] is a subterranean network of drainage tunnels, the so-called soughs that were used to drain the lead mines of the region [and thus] prevent [17th century deep] mines from filling up with water drains or ‘soughs’ were cut through the hills to a neighbouring valley. The construction of soughs changed the hydrological [meaning, water flow] landscape of the Peak District, both below ground and above.”

Picture: My photo of a Peak sough in winter.

So if you’re up there walking, and you feel thirsty… it’s probably not a good idea to drink the nice sparkly water that’s draining out of old lead mines.