Early ironmaking may date as far back as Roman times, multiple furnaces were in existence at Rievaulx Abbey by the 16th century with other small-scale operations on surface outcrops in Bilsdale, Bransdale, Rosedale and Fryup Dale. Records also exist for coastal collection of ironstone from the foreshore and cliffs.
Underground ironstone mining started at Grosmont around 1837, these workings are in the Pecten Seam, with the stone being shipped by sea from Whitby up to the Tyne.
The Main Seam ironstone was first worked at Skinningrove in 1848, but still with no furnaces locally, the stone was shipped out to Witton Park in County Durham.
On June 8th 1850 John Vaughan and John Marley identified the vast main seam outcrop at Eston, a story fully told in the wonderful “A Century In Stone“. This begins the explosion of Cleveland Ironstone mining with quarrying starting by August, at this time stone is still taken by rail up to Witton Park. To exploit this new supply, Bolckow and Vaughan open blast furnaces near Middlesbrough by 1852.
More mines immediately around Eston follow rapidly in the 1850s, such Normanby, Guisborough and New Marske (Upleatham)
The expansion continue during the 1860’s towards Skelton, Brotton, Slapewath and Spa Wood, following the expansion of the local railway network to connect mines to furnaces.
Through the 1870’s the rapid expansion outwards continues with mines such as Boosbeck, Lingdale, Kilton and Grinkle.
Mines towards the North-West around Eston have the advantages of a thicker seam, a higher iron content, no shale-band of impurities and being closer to the blast furnaces of Teesside. So towards the end of the 1870s when the initial boom is over, some of the less profitable mines towards the South-East like those around Grosmont start to close.
Fortunately for Cleveland, Gilchrist and Thomas then pioneered the Bessemer converter to turn iron into steel and by 1883 iron ore output again surges and peaks at six and three-quarter million tons, with outputs generally reamining over 5 million tons per year until the start of the First World War.
Sources :
Northern Mines Research Society
Liassic Ironstones
Whitehead, T.H.; Anderson, W.; Wilson, V.; Wray, D.A.; Dunham, K.C.
HMSO 1952
Hi Chris, I am trying to find information about Upsall pit. I have looked on a 1853 map and there is no pit. On a 1893 map it says old shafts in Osborne Rush and another pit is open at Pit Top. Running alongside it says old railway. I presume the old pit used the railway to take away the iron ore but did the railway go to Pit Top. I have read a report that the iron ore was removed and stored at Pit Top. It didn’t say how long. Then at some time the iron ore was sent back down the shaft and sent underground to Trustee Drift. Is it called Trustee because of The Lady Hewley Trust. Any help would be gratefully received.
Upsall Pit was used as an access and ventilation to the exceedingly high (26′) Eston Main Seam. The railway was an incline rather than a railway but stone was not lifted for very long. It’s main use was to take out the miners at end of shift while the new shift entered through the drifts nearer Eston. The miners then walked back into Eston from Upsall down the rather steep slope. This was done whatever the weather.
Where are the mines? Not terribly helpful if you aren’t from the UK and familiar with the details of the geography. Bit like if you asked me where was the Lucky Step Mine and I answered ‘the Far West’.
There should be a location map on that page showing all the mines in Cleveland, which I hoped made it clear.
Hi Chris , Would like imfo on mines in Blue Lake woods .I have come across a vertical hole approx 6ft dia ,8ft depth min .It has what appears to be side blocks at the bottom leading off the circular hole. Any thoughts on this ? I will be phoning FC Pickering office tomorrow morning to ask if needs checking for safety reasons . Cheers Alan .
Hi Chris ,recently i remarked about depressions and collapses on the blue lake woods area ,.Ian Blair ‘s team have now fenced the area off .I had the chance to explore before this was done finding a couple of holes through which i could look into the mine workings .I have back filled these holes . I am now curious about this area and what is below my feet .There is one which has a pool of water ,a partial roof collapse and what could be a left hand corner !! Can you offer me any help ?? Rob ( the guy thinning the trees in that area ) has Ian Blair phone number so i will try to make contact this wk if weather improves. Regards Alan Fields
Hi Chris,
My ancestor was an ironstone miner living in High Street, Marske by the sea 1881
He was listed as an invalid on the census and died later in 1881 aged 39 from paralysis.
Could you give me a clue as to which Mine he would most likely have been attached to (proximity to home) as I would love to know why he was invalided. I live in Australia so have no local knowledge and would appreciate any thoughts from you.
Hi, I’m currently studying the Saltburn shoreline below Huntcliff and have spotted a semi-brick arched tunnel with an outlet pipe close to base of the cliff. It’s obviously man made and I was wondering could it be linked with either of the 2 pits on Huntcliff/Warsett Hill or is a local authority outlet pipe. It’s location seems a fair distance from the pit locations https://share.icloud.com/photos/0g44hbYWuoXn_iOzsMlpmX3vA#Saltburn-By-The-Sea_-_Brotton
Thanks