Teesdale Way Marker – Coatham Marsh

Geotag Icon Show on map

The 6th set of Jim Roberts boots i’ve found, but theres still one more out there. This is the start of the Teesdale Way which goes to Dufton in Cumbria,

Teesdale Way Marker, Coatham Marsh

South Gare Slag Balls

Geotag Icon Show on map

South Gare is entirely man made, it was constructed between 1866 – 1888, its 2.5 miles long and contains an estimated 5 million tons of slag from the local blast furnaces, which shows the vast size of the industry in that period.

Slag Balls, South Gare Slag Balls, South Gare Slag Balls, South Gare

This particular area contains some intact balls that havent been attacked by the sea or covered by sand and vegetation.

Dorman Long Sign

Geotag Icon Show on map

This cast iron sign must be exceptionally durable, its in a very exposed place but still seems to have much of its original paint despite the fact the Dorman Long became part of British Steel in 1967.

Dorman Long Sign, South Gare

First World War Gun Battery

Geotag Icon Show on map

The two mounds carried 4.7″ Hotchkiss QF guns during WW1.

Gun Emplacement, South Gare Gun Emplacement, South Gare Gun Emplacement, South Gare

The mound closest to the river was re-used during WW2 when it held a BL 6″ Mk7.

An extensive battery covered the whole site, with much underground, but very little remains visible on the surface now.

Spigot Mortar Emplacement, South Gare

Geotag Icon Show on map

The second mount for a 29mm Spigot Mortar that I located today.

I had previously misidentified something on the other side of the road as this several years ago.

Spigot Mortar, South Gare Spigot Mortar, South Gare

Spigot Mortar Emplacement, Coatham Marsh

Geotag Icon Show on map

This concrete base with its stainless steel pin would have been used to mount a anti-tank spigot mortar, also known as a “Blacker Bombard

Spigot Mortar, Coatham Marsh Spigot Mortar, Coatham Marsh

This one is almost buried by some recent work nearby, but the pin still looks almost new.