Show on map This extremely heavily built stucture is virtually all thats left around the Trustee Drift site, the outside has likely been a haven for underage drinking for decades.
There are two (very dark and dirty) rooms to be explored inside.
Show on map In the woodland besides Cliff Rigg quarry runs an incline which once connected the Roseberry Ironstone mine to the mainline railway.
The path of the narrow gauge railway can still be seen in the field between the two sites (link)
The remains at the incline top are a brake drum housing and a “kep” which prevented wagons ascending the incline running back down after reaching the top. (Apologies for the dark photos but there was driving rain at the time)
Show on map A short distance away from the main mine area (for safety) stands the remains of the power house.
Show on map Roseberry Ironstone mine operated under 6 different owners between 1871 and 1926
The earlier workings head north-west underneath the hill are believed to be responsible for the collapse of Roseberry Topping in 1912, giving it the current distinctive shape. The later drifts head north-east under Little Roseberry.
The foundations of numerous building can be identified in the fields
Show on map This short-lived mine was worked by the Lonsdale Vale Iron Company between 1865 and 1868.
The remains of the stone engine house are visible at the edge of the Lonsdale plantation.
A small fence surrounds the overgrown building and the uncapped shaft (documented as 145 feet)
The nearby houses at New Row were also built for the mine.
Show on map A third shaft is visible on the north side of the beck, its surrounded my a fence again, but all thats visible are the top two rows of bricks and a lot of rubbish. There is a rough track from Tocketts Mill to here.
Show on map Two mine shafts are easily visible from the footpath though the woods.
The first is a pumping shaft surrounded by a fence, it is 70ft deep and full of water and debris, a bricked up passage can be seen which was presumably to let water flow out into the beck after pumping.
The second is an air shaft with a large chimney, to aid the airflow in the sheltered valley.
Update : Here is a map of the rail link to the site provided by Andrew who has made some detailed comments below, it it based on the map available on the Waggonways site
Show on map Located where Kilton Beck passes under a viaduct that was buried around 1911 – 1913 due to subsidence from the ironstone mines destablising it.
To the north you need to climb down a steep shale bank that looks like its regularly used by scramblers, the water at that end is almost knee deep, so we couldn’t attack it from that side and had to go all the way back up.
Heres the same location just after constuction
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To the south another steep climb passing a large heap of burnt out cars, but the beck is much shallower and access is easier. Here’s an image from inside with a normal flash, and a colourful HDR image built up from several shots.
Then it was time for some fun
Many thanks to Sayzey for putting me on to this one, and giving me the idea to try HDR photography.Â
Show on map The tunnel travels from the mine site, under Ridge Lane. A through journey is possible although wellingtons would be a good idea. The track continued through to Dalehouses then into a second tunnel which emerges at Port Mulgrave.
Little remains visible at the actual mine site, although there is a large collapse due to the culverted stream running underneath.
A large concerete block is one of the few remains of the mine site.
But its more fun in the tunnel.
Show on map The tunnel is very easy to locate at the top of path which bridges the A174.
A small has been broken through the bricks, but the drift is collapsed anyway.
There are a number of surface buildings and structures, the foundations closest to the drift are those of an electric hauler.
The concrete pillar held rope guides for the haulageway.
The large concrete stuctures are the foundations of the winding drums from the top of the incline.
The remains of stables with their drainage grooves can also be identifed.
