Whilst the National Lottery Heritage Funding came to end in 2020, this website and the associated Facebook Group will remain for the foreseeable future. All information from the project will gradually be transferred into the new Land of Iron website maintained by the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum which is well worth exploring ! Chris Twigg, […]
The church of St. Aidan, Boosbeck was built in 1900 and consecrated on 29th October 1901. It is one of the few churches in the area where ironstone mine workings exist directly under the church and graveyard, as these workings date from before the construction of the relatively modern church. This is by no means […]
This short piece of video footage was recorded in January 1964 when the last ironstone mine in Cleveland closed at North Skelton. If possible I would like to identify the individuals interviewed.
The new Guisborough Cemetery opened in 1873, however one miner is recorded on a gravestone in the much older St Nicholas Church (there could be more but I am only investigating inscriptions that mention a mine) I located the headstone which was broken and now rests against a wall, it was also partially buried, the […]
The Durham Mines Inspection District Ambulance League awarded the Donald Bain Challenge Shield for the best ambulance team from 1904 until 1950. Richard Donald Bain was the H.M. Inspector of Mines for the Durham District around the turn of the century. Ironstone miners from Cleveland competed against each other in a local division, before one […]
Kirkleatham wasn’t a mining village like so many in our area, but the graveyard at St Cuthbert’s still contains two graves that mention a specific mine on the inscription, there could be others in this cemetery who also died in the local mines. Charles Acklam Tyreman The Tyreman family had strong links to mining in […]
Peter Appleton from the Skelton History Group has kindly contributed another wonderful article on the local Alum industry. Period of operation: c.1654 to 1866 (with some production pauses along the way) Owners: The Lord of the manor of Loftus at the time c.1654-1676 : Zachary Steward 1672-1732 : Zachary Steward More 1732-1764 : Zachary Harnage […]
To mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, here’s a look at some of the extra roles ironstone miners took up during the Second World War. Ironstone mining was largely in decline at this time, but mines at Lingdale, Kilton, North Skelton, South Skelton and Loftus were still active. I have looked at the 1939 […]
Below are a collection of ironstone mining songs that have been made available on YouTube by Jim Barry from his album “Songs of the Stone” . The videos also feature many excellent images of local ironstone mining. Trappy Lads – Trappy lads were young boys employed in the mines to open and close ventilation doors. […]
After the positive response to the Guisborough miners graves post, I’ve been able to start on St Germains in Marske, although it will be the last until travel restrictions are eased. Initially it only lists those that mention a mine in the inscription, but I am aware there are many others in this cemetery who […]