Show on mapA large number of pits, usually just mounds but occasionally shafts (up to 160ft deep)Â capped with large stones are spread across the moorland between Clitherbeck Farm and Poverty Hill. Coal was worked here from the 16th century until the 1890s
 
A well next to Rose Cottage has ochreous mine water bubbling up from the nearby workings.
 
Apparently the mining of moorland coal was undertaken on a regular basis in the 1800’s. As far as I know it was all used locally to the mine site and some may have found its way into the kilns at Rosedale. Compared to the wealth of knowledge we have on the ironstone industry there appears to be less known about the coal mining industry-maybe this post will start some some discussion and fieldwork on the subject.
I have just done a walk through here. what I don’t understand is: how can it be coal if it is not carbon.
What’s not carbon ? Afraid I don’t follow.