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This mosaic of a miner and horse was unveiled at the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum on Wednesday June 22nd 2011.
The mosaic is the work of Derek Mosey & Helen Gaunt with volunteers from the museum, the people of Skinningrove and children from Whitecliffe Primary School. Derek and Helen also made the Skinningrove Story Wall
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This new wood carving of a pigeon fancier outside the Skinningrove Homing Society hut was unveiled in late August 2011, its the work of Steve Iredale who is responsible for many similar carvings in the area.
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The jetty was originally constructed between 1882-1887 by the Skinningrove Iron Company. Attempts were made to destroy it in WW2 to prevent it being used as a German landing point, but failed due to its unusual contruction from cement made of molten slag from the blast furnaces.
The jetty is currently in a bad state of disrepair although its still used by local fisherman who occasionally fall in the holes and hurt themselves.
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Loftus Ironstone mine operated from 1865 until 1958 (although some earlier working was done by several companies back to 1847 in the immedite area)
The name of the town and mine are said to have been altered to avoid confusion with Lofthouse near Wakefield when the railways arrived.
The pit for the Waddle ventilation fan is still very prominant on the site
The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum (formerly the Tom Leonard Mining Museum) which occupies the site is currently closed for the winter, so I shall have to return for internal shots next year, however a few items can be seen outside even when its closed.
1882 datestone from the engine house of Lumpsey Mine
1914 datestones from the fan house at South Skelton Mine
The mine stables are currently being converted, a drift ran underground from the stables directly into the mine
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This mosaic by Derek Mosey, Helen Gaunt and the village community depicts various aspects of Skinningrove such as the mine and the “merman” legened, it was erected during 2009
The small park also contains the Sylvania Anchor, which was used to help refloat a ship stranded at Skinningrove for six months, it was retrieved from the sea in 2001 after spending 100 years buried.
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This mosaic was originally constructed in 1963 for Rosecroft School in Loftus, when that was demolished in 2009 it was moved here. Its 18ft by 9ft and weighs 4.5 tonnes.
The original artist Philippa Threlfall who was 23 at the time and is now 70 visited to see its new location, one of the councillors involved in the move was actually one of the school children who collected the stones and fossil from Skinningrove beach 46 years earlier.
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The boat and chainsaw carved figures appeared some time in mid 2008.
Despite the enigmatic name, a previous owner points out its just Super spelt backwards
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The actual mine site lies to the west within a scrapyard, this circular structure houses a 60ft shaft which was used to pump water out of the mine.
It was also said to have housed a wooden staircase to allow access to underground stables.
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Its seems like an eternity since I posted any new pillboxes, so here’s one from Hummersea above Skinningrove
Its flooded inside, so no internal shots.
Very close to the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum which is well worth a visit to see the later North Drift, are the remains of the original 1848 drift in Skinningrove.
I have no idea what purpose the cupboard like structure currently inside served, it appears to be from after the tunnel was blocked.
The adjacent small tunnel looks likely to have been for drainage.
This was the first of the Cleveland ironstone mines and finally closed in 1958-1959.