This 19th century lead mine is located in an area where there may have been very early mining activity.  Stone mauls apparently associated with prehistoric copper mining have been recovered from near the South Bradda mine, which is also known as Minehough, at SC186697. 


Lead was mined here under license from the Lord of Mann, in return for payment of royalties in kind. The "Lord's Dish" or royalty payment was 32 tons 13cwt of lead ore in 1699. The licensees at that time were individuals or groups, not companies. From 1710 both lead and copper were extracted. There are quite extensive adits and levels dating from 1850 to 1883 herem but there have been some recent collapses making the workings dangerous.


From across the bay, near the Lifeboat House, it is possible to see the engine house with chimney and the 30 fathom Shaft standing on a platform about 15 feet above high watermark, in front of the gleaming white quartz associated with the mineral outcrop. Sir W.W. Smyth described this in 1878 as, "the noblest surface exhibition of a mineral vein to be seen in Europe".  A powder house and concrete water tank also survive here. An office building at the mine was planned by L.S. Garrad in 1884. This building may have been used for defense during the Second World War but was also later used by the then by a golf course.