Archive for December, 2007

Trustee Drift Powder House at Eston Ironstone Mine

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.
Eston Ironstone Mine Powder House Eston Ironstone Mine Powder House

There are two (very dark and dirty) rooms to be explored inside.

Eston Ironstone Mine Powder House Eston Ironstone Mine Powder House

Eston ROC Post

The Eston Royal Observer Corps Post is in poor condition, it looks to have been burnt many times inside, although the surface features are still OK. The open hatch at one end.
Eston ROC Post  Eston ROC PostEston ROC Post

Ventilation at the other

Eston ROC Post

A diagram of a complete post can be found here and some internal shots of the post here

Ingleby Barwick / Thornaby Pillboxes

Presumably part of the defences of Thornaby Aerodrome, there are two pillboxes in the woodland between Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby.

Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick

One out in the open still has the metal mounting points for guns.

Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick

The second is a short distance to the North-west at the edge of  woodland

Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick

Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick Pillbox in Thornaby Woods near Ingleby Barwick

Thornaby Spitfire

Not technically a wartime relic as its a fibre glass replica,  but a great reminder of the fact the whole of Thornaby is built over Thornaby Aerodrome
Thornaby Spitfire Thornaby Spitfire

There are a number of plaques surrounding the roundabout giving more details on 608 Squadron

Thornaby Spitfire Thornaby Spitfire

Much more information is given here 

Greatham Pillboxes and Anti Tank Cubes

A row of three pillboxes surround the western edge of Greatham, they defended RAF Greatham / RAF West Hartlepool.

Greatham Pillbox Greatham Pillbox

The central one is easily accessible from a public footpath, while the others can be seen north and south.

Greatham Pillbox Greatham Pillbox

The Anti Tank Cubes are adjacent to the pillbox, next to the bridge over the stream.

Greatham Anti Tank Cubes

Roseberry Topping Shooting Box

The plaque states built by Commodore Wilson of Ayton Hall in the late 18th century as a shooting shelter in inclement weather. True to its word the weather was extremely inclement when these photos were taken.

Although the recent book Roseberry Topping by the Great Ayton Community Archeology Group suggest none of  that may be true.

Roseberry Topping Shooting Box Plaque Roseberry Topping Shooting Box Roseberry Topping Shooting Box

Roseberry Ironstone Mine Incline Top

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)
Roseberry Ironstone Mine Incline Kip Roseberry Ironstone Mine Incline Kip Roseberry Ironstone Mine Incline Kip

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)

Cliff Rigg Whinstone Quarry

The site was used from the 1880s until the 1920s, it stretches for about half a mile.

Cliff Rigg Whinstone Quarry Cliff Rigg Whinstone Quarry

Cliff Rigg Whinstone Quarry Cliff Rigg Whinstone Quarry

Roseberry Ironstone Mine Powder House

A short distance away from the main mine area (for safety) stands the remains of the power house.

Roseberry Ironstone Mine Powder House Roseberry Ironstone Mine Powder House

Roseberry Ironstone Mine

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

Roseberry Ironstone Mine Foundations Roseberry Ironstone Mine Foundations

Roseberry Ironstone Mine Foundations Roseberry Ironstone Mine Foundations

The grooved floor of the stables is also visible under the grass.
Roseberry Ironstone Mine Stable Floor

Redcar Pier - Demolished 1981

Redcar Pier was built in 1871, it suffered numerous mishaps with ship collisions, fires, deliberate breaching in WW2 , damage by a mine explosion and storm damage before finally being demolished in 1981.

Redcar Pier Demolition 1981  Redcar Pier Demolition 1981 Redcar Pier Demolition 1981 Redcar Pier Demolition 1981 Redcar Pier Demolition 1981

The remains of the foundations can still be seen on the beach.

Starfish Decoy Site, Guisborough Moor

Starfish Decoy Sites were intended to draw the fire of German bombers away from the real industrial targets of Teesside.

Starfish Decoy Site betweem Percy Rigg and Guisborough Starfish Decoy Site betweem Percy Rigg and Guisborough Starfish Decoy Site betweem Percy Rigg and Guisborough Starfish Decoy Site betweem Percy Rigg and Guisborough

Setting fire to the moors would have given an impression of burning towns/factories, although theres some doubt as to whether this site was ever used.

Hospital of God Almshouse, Greatham

The Hospital of God was founded by Robert de Stichell, the Bishop of Durham in 1273 to care for poor and elderly people.

The charity runs 63 almshouses in Greatham, amongst them this spectacular listed building.

Hospital of God Almshouse Greatham

Six Stoups Waymarkers

The waymarkers line the side of the road near Birk Brow and show the safe path through formerly marshy ground, they have only recently been restored to an upright position. Details of that work can be found here
Six Stoups Standing Stones (well two of them) Six Stoups Standing Stones

Commondale waymarker carved with hands

Commondale Hand Signpost Commondale Hand Signpost

Although a little tricky to make out, the writing on the various faces reads.

TO WHITBY, TO STOKESLEY, TO GISBER all with carved hands

Percy Cross - Percy Rigg

Virtually nothing remains other a small stone base although the cross was here until 1961

The importance of the site can be seen by the large number of tracks that converge here.
Percy Cross KIldale Commondale

The path was known as the Ernaldsti and ran from Castleton to Guisborough. Both cross and path are named after Ernaldus de Percy, Lord of Kildale

Percy Rigg Iron Age Hut Circles

There are five circular hut bases, two of them 28 feet in diameter with paved floors and walls still standing to a height of three courses of stone. Nine saddle querns and the base of one rotary quern were found - The North York Moors Stanhope White 1979
Commondale Kildale Iron Age Hut Circle Commondale Kildale Iron Age Hut Circle

A much better visualisation of the circles is gained by clicking ‘Show on Map’ above to view this site via Google Earth.

There are reports of a well which possible served the settlement down towards the stream in the valley, i need to return to locate this exactly.

Lonsdale Mine

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.

Londale Mine Londale Mine Londale Mine

A small fence surrounds the overgrown building and the uncapped shaft (documented as 145 feet)

Londale Mine Shaft

The nearby houses at New Row were also built for the mine.