Current Mining Investigations in Skinningrove – Sunday 14th July 2013 14:00-16:00

Join Simon Chapman, amateur industrial archaeologist, for an exploration of the original mine buildings and structures at what is now the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and a tour of the nearby excavation of North Loftus Fan House. Simon, Secretary of the Cleveland Mining Heritage Society, is well known for his publications on the archaeology of the local area and accurate accounts detailing changes in the ironstone mining industry.

http://www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk/events/660

Fossils and Fortunes at Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum

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Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum in Skinningrove is holding a heritage day event ‘Fossils and Fortunes’ at the Museum on Saturday 6th July 2013. Talks will include Ages Past, Plant Fossils at Marske Quarry, Alum Folk, Ironstone, Maps and Museums- William Smith, the Rotunda Museum and the Geology of the Yorkshire Coast and Protecting your Earth Heritage. Speakers include locally based specialists including Denis Golding of TVRIGS, Mike Windle (NE Yorkshire Geology Trust), Will Watts (Scarborough Museums Trust), John Waring (TVRIGS), Peter Appleton (Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum) and Andy Cooper (TVRIGS). All welcome, but spaces limited booking required.
No formal charge, donations will be invited from the audience.
To book or for further information please contact Jean Banwell to book on 01287 642877 or by email jean@ironstonemuseum.co.uk . Sandwich lunches can be ordered in advance.

Lingdale Cycling Memorial

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This recently erected sculpture and information board commissioned by Lingdale Lift Off Community Group records the cycling heritage of Lingdale.
Lingdale Cycling Memorial

Lingdale Cycling Memorial
Lingdale Cycling Club had its own cycling track in the late 1800s as shown on this map, although the original was covered by the shales waste from the ironstone mine.
track1

It was then relocated to the south of the mine site as shown on early 1900s maps.
track2

1877 Temperance Hall, Loftus

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The Temperance movement was strong in the late 1800’s, often helped by Quaker mine owners such as Pease who preferred their employees to be here instead of drinking themselves silly in the local pubs.

1877 Temperence Hall, Loftus

The dedication stone is very worn, but I interpret it as :-

Laid by W Lapsley Marske
On behalf of Plant of Renown Lodge
I.O.G.T. June 11 1877

1877 Temperence Hall, Loftus

William Lapsley is listed on 1881 census in Zetland Terrace in Marske as a ‘Temperance Missionary’ and he has links to the Pease family.

I.O.G.T stands for International Organisation of Good Templars who would have been active in the Temperance movement at this time.

“Plant of Renown”  is the name given to this Loftus Lodge, which comes from Ezekiel 34:29 – ‘And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.’

Other local lodges were “Charltons Excelsior” at Margrove Park, “Hope of Lingdale”, “Star of Brotton” “Dawn of Peace” and “Star of Hope”

Acklam Ironworks

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Three 70ft furnaces of the Acklam Ironworks were blown in by Stevenson, Jacques & Company in December 1865, they were places on wooden piles driven into a marsh, in an area which become known as the Ironmasters district of Middlesbrough. At this point they are using ironstone from the Brotton ironstone mine as the companys own mine at Boosbeck had not started.
Acklam Blast2
A fourth furnace was added in 1868.

Acklam Furnace

They passed into the ownership of the Acklam Iron Company in 1888 and in turn to North Eastern Steel Company in 1896, which then become part of Dorman Long around 1904.

A 1924 Dorman Long publication shows a photo of the furnaces.
Acklam Ironworks

Save Skinningrove Jetty

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A group has been started to raise awareness and hopefully funding to safeguard the future of the Skinningrove Jetty

Skinningrove Jetty

Preserving the historical structure is certainly a cause I can fully get behind. Sadly despite the effort of one councillor for many years,  certain other members of the council appear to see it as little more than an inconvenience rather than an important piece of local history and an asset which people enjoy.

Port Mulgrave Ironstone Mine

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The ironstone mine at Port Mulgrave was started by Charles Mark Palmer in the 1850s and was originally called ‘Far Rosedale’ or ‘Rosedale on the Coast’ , it was renamed to avoid confusion with the Rosedale Mines.
port-mulgrave

The Main Seam at this location is actually slightly below sea level and shafts existed on the shore, but no trace of these remain due to landslips, additional quarrying and underground working of the Top Seam took place much higher up the cliffs and a shaft was sunk to connect to Top Seam workings with the wooden loading gantry on the harbour. The tunnel where this emerged from the cliffs is still visible.
Port Mulgrave Tunnel Entrance
The gate is now securely locked and the tunnel cannot be entered, I took the following photos back in 2007 when it was not locked, they show the large roof collapse just inside the entrance
Port Mulgrave Tunnel
The brickwork of the tunnel is almost built directly into the cliff face.
Port Mulgrave Tunnel

I believe the bricked-up entrance was used as a pillbox during World War 2, hence the loop hole.
Port Mulgrave Tunnel

 

The tunnel inside was extended in the 1870s to connect to the Grinkle Mine also owned by Charles Mark Palmer via Dalehouse.

Ayton Banks – Aerial Ropeway

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I’ve previously posted photos of Ayton Banks when it was heavily overgrown.

The foundations of the terminal of the ropeway have since been cleared of brambles and weeds and are now much more visible.
Ayton Banks Ropeway
The ends of two steel ropes from the ropeway can still be seen anchored into the concrete.
Ayton Banks Ropeway
Ayton Banks Ropeway

The 1928 OS map shows the cable running from the mine site about 2km to railway sidings near Cliff Rigg Quarrybanks