East Roman Gravels lead mine was also known as Wood mine and was owned by the Earl of Tankerville. The Hope brook carved out a valley which exposed many galena veins and in the eighteenth century, adits were driven into the hillside to exploit them. Shafts were also sunk, and this brick building probably housed a horizontal steam engine which wound materials from one of them.
This may have been the engine that was described as "one of the most perfect little rotary engines" in 1825. When recorded in 1985 it was being converted into a dwelling, thus saving it from demolition.
The nearby magnificent Cornish beam engine house was not so lucky and had been demolished a few weeks earlier. Beside the road from Minsterley is the only other substantial remaining building, the truncated stone chimney of the ore crusher house. Of the crusher itself, only the foundations remain. NGR SJ 335 002
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