Category Archives: Ironstone

Ironstone

Minewater pollution in Saltburn Gill

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Minewater first appeared in Saltburn Gill on 18 May 1999, since then the beck has been stained with ochre, this occured 35 years after Longacres mine actually closed so many think its probably due to the construction of the Skelton – Brotton bypass between Longacres and this location causing some movement underground.
Mine water pollution, Saltburn Gill

This problem also exposed a legal loophole whereby neither the current landowners nor former operators can be held responsible. The coal authority is also not currently responsible for old metal mines.

An extrememly informative article on the subject can be found in a recent issue of Geoscientist.

The interesting overlay of the workings is to be found on the informations boards by the beach.
Longacres / Saltburn Beck Map

Lingdale Branch Junction, Railway Bridges, Kilton Thorpe

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The Lingdale Branch junction went south-west to the Lingdale Ironstone Mine and south-east to the Kilton Ironstone Mine.

The central cutting was for the never completed Paddy Waddells Cleveland Extension Mineral Railway. The substantial remains of the bridge supports for the junction still stand on the edge of Kilton Thorpe
Lingdale Branch Junction, Railway Bridges near Kilton Thorpe Lingdale Branch Junction, Railway Bridges near Kilton Thorpe
Lingdale Branch Junction, Railway Bridges near Kilton Thorpe Lingdale Branch Junction, Railway Bridges near Kilton Thorpe

Ironstone Miners Memorial, Great Charles Hill, Stanghow

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This trig point has been given a coat of paint and adopted as a memorial to Cleveland Ironstone Miners, its position does actually give a view of a large number of mines.

Ironstone Miners Memorial, Trig Point, Great Charles Hill, Stanghow

Ironstone Miners Memorial, Great Charles Hill, Stanghow Ironstone Miners Memorial, Trig Point, Great Charles Hill, Stanghow
I’ve been unable to located any information on who did this, but have seen photos of it unpainted and in a hedge in 2009, theres also an impressive new cairn.
Cairn, Great Charles Hill, Stanghow

Some useful details have been provided by Dave Walsh :-

I have done some local digging and have found that the cairn and the plaque on the old trig point was the work of a guy called Fred Ramage from Beechcroft, Stanghow. I don’t know him myself, but I was told the cairn was a labour of love, using old stonework from some abandoned walls in the area, and that Fred both lugged the heavy stonework up to the hill top and erected the memorial. It seems the OS were happy for the plaque and the paintwork on the trig point, as they do not use them now, relying instead on aerial surveys and GPS. As I said I do not know Fred. However, I feel his work needs some celebration, and hopefully this site can provide it.

Eston Mines Walk Saturday July 9th

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The will soon be an opportunity to pick the brains of local author and mining expert Simon Chapman.
A Guided Walk to look at the Ironstone Mining Remains at Eston on Saturday 9th July 2011.

Meet in the public car park behind Eston Institute at 10 a.m
We shall look at the Site of Trustee Drift, Old Bank, then across to New Bank before taking the route of the former railway to the S.S. Castle and Wilton Lane
The route is not too steep to the level railway track, but likely to be muddy
Return to the start point possibly around 4 p.m., perhaps
Don’t forget to bring lunch
Simon Chapman
 

Ironstone Reminders – Mansfield Road, Eston

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The two small parks at the end of Mansfield Road have had their fences decorated with reminders of the areas mining past by the Eston Residents Association

Eston Ironstone Fences Eston Ironstone Fences Eston Ironstone Fences

Eston Ironstone Fences Eston Ironstone Fences Eston Ironstone Fences
The panels depict miners tools, tubs, a midge lamp and a horse drawn tub.

Inside the parks are a couple of much older plaques from March 1951. One from Councillor J.T. Cook and the other J. Finegan (who the town hall is named after)

Eston Oak Tree Plaques Eston Oak Tree Plaques

Only one of the two oak trees remains today.

Ironstone Reminders – Eston Square

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The Eston Residents Association have put in a lot of effort to make sure the towns mining past isn’t forgotten.

A ‘book’ in the middle of the square gives a history of the town.

Eston History Eston History Eston History

A number of plaques adorn the railings and seats around the square.

IMG_1068 Eston Ironstone Fences Eston Ironstone Fences

Eston Ironstone Plaques Eston Ironstone Plaques

A replica ironstone tub stands in a nearby flower garden

Eston Ironstone Memorial Tubs

A plaque on the Eston Institute shows miners laying the foundations of the buildings some time around the turn of the century

Eston Institute

Mine Tub – Skelton Primary School

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Mine tubs are popular with local councils for flower arangements and art installations, however most are modern interpretations that use a lot of artistic license.

This one looks much more like the real thing and could well have some original parts.

Ironstone Tub, Skelton Primary School Ironstone Tub, Skelton Primary School  

I’ve tried to contact the school for any details of its history, but they are yet to respond. I’m hoping it has some link to the nearby Longacres mine.

Upleatham Mines Walk – Saturday 14th May 2011

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On Saturday 14th of May there will be another opportunity to explore the surface remains of ironstone mining at Upleatham with local author and ironstone mining expert Simon Chapman.

The meeting place is the car park at the west end of the woods, just off Grewgrass Lane, at 1pm. The walking is reasonably level and dry, unless the monsoon arrives in which case it might be a little muddy in places.

cid_de586263d2c144a7b890f19765d76e28simon.jpg

Rosedale Miners Memorial Bench

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Other than the nice view, I’m not totally convinced the benefit of this bench by the old railway track a good distance away from any of the actual ironstone mining sites. Personally I think the money would have been better spent on consolidation work at any of the three sets of calcining kilns that are crumbling away.
Rosedale Miners Memorial Bench Rosedale Miners Memorial Bench

Hopefully the poem and reliefs of miners popping out of the top of Rosedale Chimney are by school children too.

Rosedale Miners Memorial Bench Rosedale Miners Memorial Bench