Author Archives: chris.twigg

Huntcliffe Ironstone Mine Guibal Fanhouse

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The loading ramp for the Huntcliffe mine borders the railway line which still runs to Boulby Potash mine. 

Huntcliffe Mine Unloading Ramp and Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Unloading Ramp

Just to the south of the ramp are the foundation of an engine house used for haulage.

Huntcliffe Mine Engine Foundations Huntcliffe Mine Engine Foundations

The fanhouse itself is on the opposite side of the railway.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse

In the field on the landward side is a small area of collapsed tunnel which allows access to the base of the shaft inside the building.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel

  Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel

Heres the same shaft seen from inside

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Shaft 

A large void remains in the middle of the structure where the fan was once located.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse

In the bottom of the pit is a doorway and a view up the chimney.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse 

However much time you spend here, its hard to escape the prying eyes.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse 

Huntcliff Sculptures

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There are three sculptures by Richard Farrington at the top of Huntcliff, erected in 1990 as part of the Common Ground’s ‘New Milestones’ project.
The first is based on a Trawl Door with a large fish and plankton
Trawl Door Sculpture, Huntcliff Trawl Door Sculpture, Huntcliff

The second Pillar is a ridged marker post, supporting a chain of four metal sculptures

Marker Post Sculpture, Huntcliff Marker Post Sculpture, Huntcliff
The third and most well known is the Circle or Charm Bracelet represent aspects of local life, the original ended up vandalised and at the bottom of Huntcliff in 1996.
Circle Sculpture, Huntcliff, Charm Bracelet

Armouth Wath, Coal Mine, Baysdale

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Armouth Wath is located at the meeting of two small streams at the head of Baysdale. 

Armouth Wath  

A pair of old stone bridges cross the streams, as well as some more modern pipes.

Armouth Wath Bridge Armouth Wath Bridge

A ruined building stand by the track, it looks more industrial than the domestic as I couldn’t spot any chimneys or fireplaces.

Armouth Wath Buildings Armouth Wath Buildings

About 100m to the South-West is a small single roomed structure

Armouth Wath Building Remains 

The main area of mining is to the side of the stream, north of the buildings. Three collapses running perpendicular the stream can be seen, the first of which contains a lot of rubble.

Collapsed Adit, Armouth Wath Armouth Wath Adit Remains Armouth Wath Building Remains

Within this largest depression stands a small arch, which presumably was once the mine entrance.

Armouth Wath Adit Remains Armouth Wath Adit Remains  

Downstream is a nice waterfall probably rarely seen due to the remoteness of the site.

Waterfall at Armouth Wath 

To the South-East is evidence of the existance of Black Hagg Pit.

Black Hagg Pit, Armouth Wath  

We found a fair amount of coal lying around in the area, and found it to burn very well in the pub at Commondale on the way home.

 

Hartlepool Lighthouse

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The current lighthouse was built in 1926 after the previous lighthouse was removed to give the Heugh Battery and Lighthouse Battery a clearer view of the sea.

The position of the orignal stopped retaliatory fire during the Bombardment of Hartlepool on 16th December 1914

Hartlepool Lighthouse Hartlepool Lighthouse

1500 shells were fired at Hartlepool during the bombardment by the German Cruisers Seydlitz, Moltke and Blucher. Leading to the death of the first soldier killed on British soil during the First World War

First Soldier Killed on British Soil in World War 1, HartlepoolÂ