Kettleness Mysteries (one solved)

Posted on February 1, 2009 by chris.twigg

I really have no idea what this short tunnel/shelter just below the cliff top is for, it seemsÂ too neatÂ andÂ too short to be mine related. To me it gives the impression of being a shelter from where the view can be admired. It looks to have been cut by hand.

Â Â

Does anyone have any idea of its age and purpose ?

Just a short distance away to the north, this unusualÂ itemÂ is visible by the side of the Cleveland Way, the metal part still freely rotates and there appear to be the remain of powerful springs attached.

It is some distance away from both the Sandsend and Kettleness tunnels.

UPDATE : Dave Richardson has kindly come up with an answer for the second one, its a Motley Mount for Twin Vickers “K” Machine Guns for light anti aircraft defense, there were originally four as the Goldsborough Cliff Radar Station was here from 1940 to 1945.

Memorial Stone near Water Ark, Goathland

Posted on January 12, 2009 by chris.twigg

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A short series of posts inspired by looking through my older printed photos, before going digital and before this website existed.

This spot is where Eller Beck flows through a ravine under a bridge on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The stone commemorates Sydney Porritt whoÂ drowned aged 16 in 1908, in theÂ photo my friends are doing their best to re-create that moment.

Corus Mill Demolition

Posted on January 3, 2009 by chris.twigg

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A short series of posts inspired by looking through my older printed photos, before going digital and before this website existed.

I’m afraid I don’t remember the date this happened, but I got informed about it due to my job. The general public however were unaware and it must have come as a big shock to the people driving down the Trunk Road that day.

I suspect it was this event recorded in a corporate report I found online.

The old Lackenby open hearth steelmaking building at Teesside, which was built in 1953, was demolished in 2004. The building contained over 20,000 tonnes of structural steel and cladding, which was then recycled at a rate of about 1,000 tonnes each week over a five-month period.

A friend of mine has the whole thing on video, which i’ve now got on YouTube (no sound unfortunately)

Memorial to crashed wartime Hudson. Easby Moor.

Posted on January 3, 2009 by chris.twigg

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A short series of posts inspired by looking through my older printed photos, before going digital and before this website existed.

Memorial plaque to Lockheed Hudson which crash landed near Captain Cooks monument on 11th February 1940.

Full details of the crash can be found hereÂ

Wheeldale Moor, Burnt out Fire Engine.

Posted on January 3, 2009 by chris.twigg

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A short series of posts inspired by looking through my older printed photos, before going digital and before this website existed.

The few remains of a burnt out fire engine are located just South East of the Blue Man-i’-th’-Moss standing stone.
Wheeldale Fire Engine

I believe it was caught trying to put out a moorland fire some time in the 1970s.

Robin Hood’s Close and Little John’s Close, Whitby

Posted on January 3, 2009 by chris.twigg

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A new year contribution from my Whitby correspondent Peter Craggs (mention my name and you may get an extra sausage if staying at his B&B)

Legend has it that an archery contest took place between Robin Hood and Little John. Arrows were shot from Whitby Abbey into the area known as Whitby Laithes (about 2km so believe that if you will)

Two stones mark the positions of the arrows, although they are 1903 replacements rather than the originals, the fields on either side are still named as Robin Hood’s and Little John’s.

Much more detail on the story is given here, with some claiming links back to Robin Goodfellow and Bronze Age standing stones.

Memorial to downed Lancaster Bomber, Lord McGowan Bridge, Redcar

Posted on December 23, 2008 by chris.twigg

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This plaque was unveiled on 17/12/2008, 66 years after the crew of Lancaster bomber W4319 SR-N were all killed, shot down by ‘friendly fire’.Â

The Evening Gazette report say it came down near where Steel House is now located, although thats about 200 yards North East, not 200 yards West as the plaque says.

The plaque is on Lord McGowan Bridge (built in 1951, named after aÂ chairman of ICI)Â

Also adjacent to the plaque is a nice way marker for the Teesdale Way, apparently there are 6 more sculptures of footware by Jim Roberts, between South Bank and Coatham Marsh.

Waterfall Viaduct, Slapewath

Posted on December 23, 2008 by chris.twigg

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The 8 arch Waterfall viaduct carried the Cleveland RailwayÂ which served many of the ironstone mines in this area, it is very close to the main road, but becoming harder to see over the years as trees grow around it.

Just to the west, on the approach to the Spa Wood ironstone mine is another interesting bridge with offset stonework.

Spa Wood Ironstone Mine

Posted on December 18, 2008 by chris.twigg

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IronstoneÂ was extracted from Spa WoodÂ mineÂ between March 1853 and December 1928.

Approaching from the east through large mine spoil heaps currently used by bikers,Â you first encounter a powder magazine

CloseÂ by are the bricked up travelling and main drifts.

In the next area to the west of the drifts are the offices and workshops which are still largely intact, having been part of a scrapyard until recent years. A chimney also stood here which was only recently demolished.

Further west stand the remains of two fan houses for ventilating the mine workings. Finally to the extreme west of the site stands an electrical sub-station from the later years of electrication