Salvage Hunters

Drew Pritchard and John Tee travel to Coniston, a village in Cumbria, to investigate a 500‑year‑old copper mine. Within the remarkably well‑preserved historic workings they uncover a slipware dairy bowl, an intricately crafted set of pattern wheels and an old retail counter.

The show follows presenters Drew Pritchard and John Tee as they set off on another on‑site adventure, this time heading to the north‑west of England. Their mission is to explore a historic mining location and see what lies beneath the surface of a small Cumbrian village. The tone is relaxed, with the two hosts chatting as they make their way through the landscape. In this episode they travel to Coniston, a village in Cumbria, where a copper mine that’s been in operation for roughly five centuries still stands. The pair step inside the ancient workings, taking a close look at the tunnels and chambers that have survived for generations. Their curiosity drives them deeper into the mine’s history, providing a clear picture of how the site was used over the centuries. While moving through the underground passages they come across a slipware dairy bowl, a piece of everyday pottery that hints at the domestic life of the people who once worked there. Alongside the bowl they discover a set of pattern wheels, tools that would have been essential for shaping metal and other materials in the mine’s heyday. The exploration doesn’t stop at artefacts; the presenters also locate a retail counter that once served the miners and visitors alike. This find adds another layer to the story, showing how commerce was woven into the fabric of the mining community. Together, the bowl, the wheels and the counter give a tangible sense of the mine’s long‑standing role in the village’s heritage.