Author Archives: chris.twigg

Huntcliffe Ironstone Mine Guibal Fanhouse

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The loading ramp for the Huntcliffe mine borders the railway line which still runs to Boulby Potash mine. 

Huntcliffe Mine Unloading Ramp and Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Unloading Ramp

Just to the south of the ramp are the foundation of an engine house used for haulage.

Huntcliffe Mine Engine Foundations Huntcliffe Mine Engine Foundations

The fanhouse itself is on the opposite side of the railway.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse

In the field on the landward side is a small area of collapsed tunnel which allows access to the base of the shaft inside the building.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel

  Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Tunnel

Heres the same shaft seen from inside

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Shaft 

A large void remains in the middle of the structure where the fan was once located.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse

In the bottom of the pit is a doorway and a view up the chimney.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse 

However much time you spend here, its hard to escape the prying eyes.

Huntcliffe Mine Guibal Fanhouse 

Huntcliff Sculptures

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There are three sculptures by Richard Farrington at the top of Huntcliff, erected in 1990 as part of the Common Ground’s ‘New Milestones’ project.
The first is based on a Trawl Door with a large fish and plankton
Trawl Door Sculpture, Huntcliff Trawl Door Sculpture, Huntcliff

The second Pillar is a ridged marker post, supporting a chain of four metal sculptures

Marker Post Sculpture, Huntcliff Marker Post Sculpture, Huntcliff
The third and most well known is the Circle or Charm Bracelet represent aspects of local life, the original ended up vandalised and at the bottom of Huntcliff in 1996.
Circle Sculpture, Huntcliff, Charm Bracelet

Hartlepool to Middleton Ferry Steps

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The ferry ran from 1854 – 1952 to the now non-existant village of Middleton.

Steps to old Hartlepool - Middleton Ferry Crossing.

The last true ferry man Bull Boagey slipped on these steps in 1951, cracking his head which killed him.

Sandwell Gate, Hartlepool Headland

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Sandwell Gate is named after the long gone chalybeate spring on the beach. It was most likely built in the 14th Century.

It lead directly into Sandwell Chare and the Croft which were in-filled and demolished in the 1930s.
Sandwell Gate

More details on the town walls here 

Andy Capp Statue, Hartlepool Headland

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Andy Capp creator Reg Smythe was born and died in Hartlepool and based the characters on his own parents.

Andy Capp statue

The bronze statue was erected in 2007

Bathing Pool, Hartlepool Headland

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The open air bathing pool opened in 1923, there a photo here, it was damaged beyond repair by the 1953 storms

The outline of the pool can still be seen on the shore at low tide.
Outdoor Bathing Pool Foundations Outdoor Bathing Pool Foundations

The Royal Exchange, Middlesbrough

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The Royal Exchange was sadly lost to the A66 flyover in the 1980s.

The are some nice pictures of it on the Lost Teesside page

One small scrap of it remains outside the Corus Steel House offices near Redcar.

Royal Exchange

Armouth Wath, Coal Mine, Baysdale

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Armouth Wath is located at the meeting of two small streams at the head of Baysdale. 

Armouth Wath  

A pair of old stone bridges cross the streams, as well as some more modern pipes.

Armouth Wath Bridge Armouth Wath Bridge

A ruined building stand by the track, it looks more industrial than the domestic as I couldn’t spot any chimneys or fireplaces.

Armouth Wath Buildings Armouth Wath Buildings

About 100m to the South-West is a small single roomed structure

Armouth Wath Building Remains 

The main area of mining is to the side of the stream, north of the buildings. Three collapses running perpendicular the stream can be seen, the first of which contains a lot of rubble.

Collapsed Adit, Armouth Wath Armouth Wath Adit Remains Armouth Wath Building Remains

Within this largest depression stands a small arch, which presumably was once the mine entrance.

Armouth Wath Adit Remains Armouth Wath Adit Remains  

Downstream is a nice waterfall probably rarely seen due to the remoteness of the site.

Waterfall at Armouth Wath 

To the South-East is evidence of the existance of Black Hagg Pit.

Black Hagg Pit, Armouth Wath  

We found a fair amount of coal lying around in the area, and found it to burn very well in the pub at Commondale on the way home.

 

Hartlepool Lighthouse

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The current lighthouse was built in 1926 after the previous lighthouse was removed to give the Heugh Battery and Lighthouse Battery a clearer view of the sea.

The position of the orignal stopped retaliatory fire during the Bombardment of Hartlepool on 16th December 1914

Hartlepool Lighthouse Hartlepool Lighthouse

1500 shells were fired at Hartlepool during the bombardment by the German Cruisers Seydlitz, Moltke and Blucher. Leading to the death of the first soldier killed on British soil during the First World War

First Soldier Killed on British Soil in World War 1, HartlepoolÂ