Many thanks to Carol Starsmore for this photograph and names of the Skinningrove office staff at their Christmas party in the 1960s.

Back row, l-r:- Peter Bulman, Ron Ebbs, Mike Wedgwood, Paul Redway, George Swales, Gordon B.Davies, Clive Pearson, Maurice Cook, Eric Matson, Fred Larder, Colin Shaw, George Lindsey, George Brignall, George Elders, Albert Allen

Middle row:- Jean Parkinson, Florence Cornforth, Barbara Cuthbert, Val Taylor, June Hugill, Janet Grey, Ann Walshaw, Carol Goodwill

In front:- Sheila Hampton, Barbara Marshall

Another photo showing a different part od the station, photo courtesy of Joyce Dobson

Joyce Dobson loaned us this rather good photo of the alum house at Hummersea all the others I have seen the house has been in ruins.

Not  the well known Minnie this time, but Lizzie one of the loco’s from Skinningrove works, pictured in the mid 1930’s with (left to right) Len Horner, Mark Cook and ”Scotchy” Jones. Lizzie was scrapped in the late 1950’s.

 Thanks go to Joyce Dobson for the loan of her photo. and David Husband advising of sources for our detail.

Thanks to Mrs. Carole Starsmore for this photograph of her father, Jack Goodwill, with Bob Harland and ’Mink’ Simpson taking a break in the stockyard at B.S. Skinningrove Works in the 1960s.

A Lovely photo of Port Mulgrave’s docks of years gone by.
(photo courtesy of Neil Suckling)

Another photo kindly loaned to us by Neil Suckling who asked where was the photo taken? My thoughts are that it is Skinningrove works, but I can be wrong as proved so often in the past. What do you think?

Eric Johnson suggests: ”if this is skinningrove, it dates from the introduction of steelmaking. at the left of photo is the new talbots building, at this stage only one furnace of about 250 tons capacity was operating. a glimpse through a gap in the sheeting appears to be a high ground type charging machine having driven one in my time later in the life of the plant. moving right, next to the water tower the large pipe is part of the gas producers, with the tall tower the coal hoist to feed the retorts. and behind the large building is the new power house. the men appear to be standing on the site of the soaking pits and 36inch mill.”

Thanks to Eric for the update.

But which brickworks, was it Loftus?  Following a comment from Tony Lynn this is now believed to be a pre-cast concrete works, but where? We are also told by Eric Johnson of a Thomas Eaton who in 1891 was a manufacturer of tiles and bricks in Loftus, but obviously on a smaller scale than shown in this image. The search continues.  

(photo courtesy of Neil Suckling, thanks to Tony Lynn  and Eric Jonson for the update.)

1939, Sorting shale from ironstone on the large convetor belt at Loftus where the ironstone mine re-opened after being closed since last August. This will mean employment for several hundred men, the ore extracted will be supplied to Skinningrove Iron works where 2 addition calcing kilns are ti be re-lighted. The second picture is the first load up at Loftus.

The caption tells all.
(photo courtesy Joyce Dobson)

Mr Arthur Gill’s retirement with Mr V. Caney and Mr Fothergill. Were you there?
Back right there is Billy Winspear and Brian Atkinson,in the middle back is Arthur Summers, can you helpwith any other names? Please.
(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Once again a photo loaned to us by Eric Johnson, do you the names of the two men?

The foundations for a ’new tippler ore crusher’ c1950 I am told by Eric Johnson who loaned the photo. We are also advised (by Phil Ransome) that the gentleman at back left is possibly Nelson Downs. Can anybody else assist with names.

Thanks to Phil Ransome for the update.

How many times did Loftus mine close and then re-open?

This is the 18” mill before remodelling in 1956 with Les Smith (the roller)in the centre of the image.

Thanks to Eric Johnson for the loan of the photo and the information.

Tod point signal box Warrenby, with men at work.

(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

That was the title to this cutting – red hot slag being run off one of the blast furnaces into buckets at Skinningrove Iron and Steel works. The cutting is dated 9th February 1937.

I know that the gentleman on the left is Frank Liddiard, but who are the other two men and where abouts on Skinningrove works are they?

Eric Johnson believes: ”this may be the location of the scale charging car, on no 5 furnace. the large round object on the left might be the weighing scale, for weighing the charges from the materials bunkers ore/ coke/ limestone, and then taken to the skips for hoisting to the furnace top.”
(photo courtesy of Joyce Harding and update from Eric Johnson)

A Skilbeck postcard of Liverton Mine, sunk by the New London Company about 1871  and closing in 1923, the eventual owners were Cargo Fleet Iron Co. Southbank. This answers the question, why Liverton Mines was often referred to as New London.

I have been informed by Eric Johnson, this photo is of the 32? breakdown stand, on the 18? mill. It was a war reparation from the German Krupps Works.  Sorry for the wrong information given last time joanj

(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

A tight fit for the Lamberton under Kilton Bridge in 1950.

Dave Jackson tell us: ”The machine in the image a Lamberton RSM was scrapped in December 2008. It was replaced by a new Danieli RSM manufactured in Udinese Italy and this was installed Jan 2009.”

(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)  Thanks to Dave Jackson for that update.

The view from Todd Point signal box at Warrenby Redcar.
(thanks go to Eric Johnson for the loan of the photo)

”A view of the front side, of a 120 ton Talbot furnace. The charging pans on the right contain (galley) iron ore, on the far side of the furnace the pans contain lime. The furnace doors are water cooled, added after oil firing was introduced. To the left of the melter, in front of the door is a stand used for the hot metal chute.”

Does anyone know the name of the gentleman standing rather close it looks to me.
(thanks again to Eric Johnson for the photo and the supporting information)

The new resevoir, is what Eric Johnson, the owner of the photo tells me. Steve Partlett tells us: ”Part of this reservoir still exists. It was on the edge of the cliffs, to the north of jetty bank top. One of it’s purposes was to provide storage for No5 Blast furnace cooling water. The concrete block in the middle of the photograph was where the pipes left the reservoir to feed the pumphouse which was built just in front of the block. This proberly means the photo was taken sometime during the building of No5 Furnace, (early fifties,I think)and was possibly taken from the top of one of the older Blast furnaces. There was also a large tank supported on a steel tresle in front of the mound in the lower right of the photograph. This provided the “head” of cooling water for a while in case the pumps failed. A Laboratory was built into the steel support tresle. Due to it’s height this tank was visible from the beach below.”

Thanks to Eric Johnson for the image and Steve Partlett for the update.

Although it sounds more like a dance than a machine used on the steel works, Brian Young tells us: ”This 53” Lamberton straightener seven shafts was used to straighten various “raw” steel sections after rolling from the 36? mill. The Lamberton was fed via rollers and skids, after straightening each bar was shoved off onto benches manually.”

(thanks again to Eric Johnson for the photo and to Brian Young and Tony Shaw for the notes.)

I am informed by Eric Johnson who loaned us the photo that this is the 36” mill hot saw, with man holding tongs in right hand is waiting for a sample to be cut and was taken c.1950. The rear person pictured is Tom Cook.

Thanks to Eric Jonson for the update.

Another photo from the collection of Eric Johnson and this time a photo of men bending mine arches.

Another photo taken from a glass plate of the original talbot tilting furnace 240 tons capacity, largest in Europe when built about 1910.

This pitside view shows the furnace under repair, the port ends which were movable have been drawn back. The “lander” – the taphole chute sticking out of the middle of the furnace  – has the brick lining removed. On the right of photo is a large steel casting ladle, with a skull (scrap steel) on the lip. To the left are two slag ladles full of furnace debris. Next is a small charging ladle used to pour molten pig iron into the furnace from the charging side. On each side of the lander, a cage is suspended from the furnace by two pivoted arms allowing the cages to go up and down with the tilting. A shelter can be seen on the cages near the lander, to protect the melters throwing in the charges of coal, manganese, silicon etc. This varied according to specification.
(photo and information given by Eric Johnson)

Skinningrove Iron And Steel Works about the date on the caption, taken from a glass plate. (photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

I thought because of today’s weather conditions this photo was quite apt.
(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

I wonder if that is what the captian of the ship ’Gaslight ’said in February 1934 when it went into the starboard side of the bridge deck of S.S. Skinningrove at Middlesbrough docks.

About 1914 when this photo was taken, a mine barrow waiting near the weigh cabin. Thanks again go to Eric Johnson for this photo.

Skinningrove stockyard where the men are slinging angles, that’s what the caption said on this photo loaned to us by Eric Johnson.

This gentleman I am told is the source of many of the photo’s on this site. Thank you Mr Morgan, this photo taken inside Todd Point signal box. (photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Derek Ditchburn, Fred Bibby and Richard(Dick) Gittins are the three men leaning on the engine.
(photo and name correction courtesy of Eric Johnson) my apologies to Dick, it was me who got the name wrong,    joanj

Yes 1936 and the workmen were given milk, gladly accepted by the men.

Barring out calcined ironstone from kiln, information and photo taken from a glass plate gratefully recieved fron Eric Johnson

Well I couldn’t go wong with this photo could I? The name of the mine and the owners in plain site on the photo which was loaned to us by Eric Johnson. The mine was situated close to Boosbeck and closed in 1954.

Steam driven hauler on jetty bank about 1914.

(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Yes bus drivers left Alan Chilton and right Frank Birtwhistle at the United garage East Loftus about 1962. The garage was later Arriva and is now closed.
(photo courtesy of Alan chilton)

A long time ago on Skinningrove works  the ’barrows’ are there some still laden, they must have been very heavy for one man to push when fully loaded, each barow is numbered and I am supposing each man ad his own barrow. Am I right?
This photo was taken from a glass plate photo and kindly loaned to us by Eric Johnson.

Peter Miller sitting in front of the Crag Hall signal box.
(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

1880 is the date on the photo, not the kind of men I  would like to meet on a dark night, but the hours were long and the pay was small.

(photo courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Eston Mine – with    the Hauler which hauled the wagons (trucks) up, or let them down, part of the incline. One can see the rope attached from the Hauler Drums and the Hauler man on the left side on the Drum bridge. Note the square opening on the building behind. This was where the Hauler or Winder man looked out over the proceedings. Note there are also more trucks under the bridge going further up to the left and next section.

(photo courtesy of Derick Pearson and the supporting information)

1895 was the date on this photo and who am I to argue?
(photo courtesy of Derick Pearson)

The caption on the photo says it all.
(once again thanks to Derick Pearson for the photo)

A lovely photo of the mine, but I think it may be a postcard. Someone has cropped the card (not guilty) but part of Geo. Skilbeck’s name can still be seen.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

Now the fan falls into disrepair as the mine is no longer working.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone mining museum)

Do you remember Redcar bus station like this? I do.

A different photo of the mine showing the ’buckets’ taking the shale to the tip behind the mine. The ironstone went to the works via the shaft for North Loftus mine (the head gear was inside the works). This image is probably dated c. 1930.
(photo courtesy Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, update from Eric Johnson)

Although it says Bell Brothers Brownlee Collery on the side of this ambulance, it is housed at the mining museum at Skinningrove. If I remember rightly it was restored by some apprentices at the I.C.I. at Wilton. Another memory recall is that the body of a rescued man was put in in a certain way, one way he was alive and another way he was dead, but which way was it?

(photo courtesy Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum.)

This was the ventilating fan at Lumpsey mine. It was installed in 1925 and made by the Waddle Fan Engineering Co. of Llanelly in South Wales. After working until 1964 it was left to decay until somebody stole it.”

(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

Thanks once again to Simon Chapman for keeping me right on the fan at Lumpsey.  joanj

That’s what it says on the photo and this has been confirmed by Simon Chapman who tells us: ”This was a fire at Port Mulgrave about 1911. You can see it has burnt out the engine room and boilers for the rope haulage system through the tunnel to Dalehouse, exposing a section through one of the bunkers for loading ironstone into ships in the harbour. The big mound of ironstone to the right was usually built up when sea conditions prevented ships docking and taking normal shipments away. The damage was later repaired and the harbour got back to normal operations.”

(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and many thanks to Simon Chapman for the supporting information)

The port with the boats there waiting to be loaded, how busy it is.

Now positively identified as the jetty at Port Mulgrave and is a different view of the ”Boats waiting to be loaded” also on the site. Thanks to Bill Danby for the update.

I don’t remember buses with names, it says Saltburn, Redcar and Marske on the side so I am presuming this was it’s route.

I had to look hard at this photo as I thought it had been reversed I don’t remember a footpath at that side of the beck only Glover’s path on the left hand side. But I have been assured that there was a path on that side and of course you can see Liverton Mine in the background,telling it hasn’t been reversed.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

A different view of Duckhole pit taken from Carlin How.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

Yes I know this isn’t an old photograph, but it will be one day and you must admit it is beautiful and shows how the station has changed over the years.

(photo courtsey of Ray Brown)

This, I think, is when the Zetland Hotel was still a hotel and the lovely Victorian facade of the station, including the canopy was intact. Before expediency destroyed the excursion platform with its beautiful Victorian cupolas and when the station building was still a station building instead of a shopping arcade.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

 Looking towards the east,  1971/3 the date when this photo was taken, it was a lovely station as most of them were, what a pity such a lot of them were demolished.

Russ Piggott advises us : ”This picture is later than 1960 I would say about 71-73 The track into the trainshed was closed in 1970 and the sleepers are still present. Also the poster has a mk2 inter-city coach on it which were not introduced until 1966.”

Yes another photo of Saltburn station this time looking towards the Zetland Hotel where the trains could pull right into the hotel. The celebrities could enter the hotel without being seen by the public.

Eston New Bank (or California Bank as it was known to the locals) was one of the inclines used for transporting ironstone from the mines down to the ironworks. The view gives the impression of an incline similar to Ingleby Greenhow, being a form of cable railway system.

Thanks to

(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

Yes I know we have some aerial photos of the works but this one is lovely and clear you can even see the line going onto the jetty, it is suggested by Simon Chapman that this dates from about 1967. The sinter plant is still working and blast furnace still stands in this image.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Mining Museum and thanks to Simon for the update)

The calcining plant at Rosedale Mines. We are told by Simon Chapman: ”This is the plant installed in the 1920s to recover a mound of calcined ironstone dust tipped below the kilns at Rosedale. It had been dumped there in the past because it was unsuitable for smelting originally but later could be used because of improvements in metallurgy. Similar equipment was installed below the other kilns at Rosedale East but the dust mound in front of the West kilns still remains. Recovery of this material kept the railway open for a couple of years after the mines closed in 1926.”  

(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and thanks to Simon for the information)

Brotton station over a hundred years ago, the card was posted on 23rd October, 1907.

Image courtesy of Beryl Morris.

Julie Riddiough has kindly sent us a set of photographs that she took from the top end of Brotton just last month, in the afternoon of 27th August. 

This is a view over the golf course to the remains of the Huntcliffe mine, Guibal fan house, beside the railway at the top of the cliff.

Thanks to Joe Ward for this photo of the remains of Liverton Mines Pit.  Has it been taken from the shale tips?  I can see the lower end of Graham Street and of Downe Street.  Loftus is in the background at the other side of the valley.  When was it taken?

An Iron and Steel works banner for the Cleveland district. Do you know any more about it?
(photo courtesy of Ceveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

Now this one I know nothing about, I knew the mines had their own banner but I didn’t know the steel workers had them.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Minng Museum)

This I found very useful as if you like me had looked at various aerial photo’s of the steel works and wondered which part was which. Well wonder no more this photo tells all.

Thanks to the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum we can show a plan of the workings of Boulby Mine.

Simon Chapman points out: ”If you read the small print at the bottom you will see that this is a plan of the workings of Boulby Mine. Grinkle Mine was to the south and much more extensive.”

Thanks to Simon for the correction.

As the caption says Rosedale Mineral Railway 1860-1926, what more can I say?
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

The locomotive is an “p” class North Eastern Railway engine. built at Gateshead. the tender has L.N.E.R. painted on, so photo is after 1923. Bloworth crossing is near Ingelby Incline (Battersby to Rosedale mineral line).  Eric Johnson

(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

A rather cold and lonely spot where was Blakey station?

Russ Piggott tells us: ”

Blakey station was near where the Farndale road turns off the ‘Blakey Road’ There is still the wall of one side of the bridge which took the road over the railway. The ‘station’ was the junction where the Rosedale East and West Branches seperated. Nothing now remains of the buildings on the site.”

Thank you for that Russ I was hoping no one would say Blakey or wrists would have had to have been smacked joanj
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, thanks to Russ Piggott for the update.)

Difficult to say which Company owned this bus, but if it was the Loftus Company, then they eventually went bust and their assets were obtained by Mr Keith Watson at Saltburn.  When his Bus enterprise failed they were all bought up by what went on to become The Saltburn Motor Services being taken over in  August 1974 by Cleveland Transit. This company in turn becoming part of the Stagecoach group which no longer serves East Cleveland. How the wheels turn.

Thanks to Chris Hall for his update.

Ingleby incline and all people available are posed for the camera.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum)

North Eastern Railway Terminus 1,000 feet above sea level and that is as much as I know about it and I read that off the caption. Now believed to be on the Rosedale end of the Rosedale to Ingleby Greenhow railway system. Thanks to Mark T for the update.

(photo courtesy of cleveland ironstone mining museum)

A busy day at Rosedale works I am informed thst the west works started in 1857 and the east side in 1859. Simon Chapman provides us with the following: ”This is a view of the Rosedale East Mines in the 1920s. Central in the picture is a chute for loading ironstone direct into railway wagons, while in the background, behind the white hut, a gantry spans the railway; this was the apparatus for recovering the calcine dust from below the iron-fronted or New Kilns. The wagons in the foreground are empty tubs from out of the pit.
Right in the background, behind the ramshackle tipping huts, can be seen the cottages and workshops at High Baring.
The Rosedale West Mines opened in the mid-1850s and the East Mines about 1865.”
(photo courtesy of Cleveland ironstone mining museum and grateful thanks to Simon for the dating information)

When it actually was a port, built around 1856-57, it was a very busy place serving the surrounding mines.

(photo courtesy of Cleveland ironstone mining museum)

14 years on and quite a few differences from the previous photo of Cragg Hall, judging by Russell Piggott’s comment below this may be later than we imagined, any more thoughts out there?

Russell Piggot ha s assisted in identifying the train as:

”A Q6 Class 6 0-8-0.”

Thanks to Russell for the update.

At Huntcliff again and this time the sidings above the main drift are being dismantled in 1906

As the caption says it’s Huntcliff mine 1906.

Looking south 24th February 1973, or Brotton station as it used to be. Do you remeber it like this?

This is a lovely image, sadly of an age long past.  A BR Standard class 4 2-6-4T leads a commuter train (with that weird brake van) into Sandsend station across the viaduct.

Maybe I would ’cos I am nosey, it’s the entrance to the alum mine on Hummersea beach.

Chris Twigg tells us: ”Rather than a mine, it was connected by a shaft to the Alum House on the cliff top. Presumably to allow the transportation of goods in and out.The alum shale was actually been quarried on the cliff top to the west.”
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrisonand update from Chris Twigg)

At one time well used tracks but now rusting and decaying, but what brick work on that tunnel, believed to have been built in the 17th century.
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrison and update from Chris Twigg)

You can almost smell the damp in this part of the tunnel, I wonder who were the last workers here, anyone got any photographs of the alum workers?
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrison)

Doesn’t fill you with confidence to go much farther into the tunnel does it?
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrison)

Looks like some climbing to do to get any farther into the tunnel.
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrison)

I don’t know how far in the tunnel these people went but here it is blocked by a fall of rock.
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrison)

I think the caption says all there is to say about this photo

The only time you would have got this view a few years ago was if you were on the steel works, but it does show the jetty off very well.
(photo courtesy of Pem Holliday)

Thanks to Owen Rooks for this photograph and following caption:

This is a shot I took from a helicopter of the works site in June 2006. I don’t know what goes on there these days so I’ll leave it to the experts to identify any noteworthy features!

One of the pit horses at the Boulby ironstone mine.  I believe it is by the Travelling Drift.

One of the men to be seen working behind the horse was known as Pidge.

(Image courtesy of Mr. R. Conn)

Sandra tells us that Brian took this photo of the train crossing the bridge below Carlin How, and the next photo, from their bedroom window on St. Hilda’s Terrace.  

The train is ’The Boulby Flyer’ on the first excursion organised by Saltburn Railtours in August 1995.  This trip took place in the Saltburn Victorian Week.  (Thanks to their website for this information). 

Thanks to Sandra Hutchinson for the photograph.

The train going over the viaduct towards Loftus, with Kilton shale tip in the background.   The excursion was on the Boulby mineral line from Saltburn to Boulby Potash Mine and back.

Thanks to Sandra Hutchinson for the photograph.

Another picture of the viaduct adjacent to the station at Sandsend, viewed from the hill above the village on the Whitby side.

As the caption says bridge over jetty nearing completion 1950.
(photo courtesy of Pem Holliday)

Not a very clear picture, but as we don’t have many of Grinkle mine we felt we had to publish it. We know the mine was abandoned in 1934, hence very little survivves to this day. Has anyone got any more photos or information they would like to share with us?
(photo courtesy of Pem Holliday)

A photograph taken after Skinningrove station was closed.
(photo courtesy of Pem Holliday)

Skinningrove Station – ironically at Carlin How!

Who were the two people in the photograph?

  Sandsend Viaduct, with local train

 A view of Sandsend Viaduct with a local commuter train from Whitby approaching.

 Sadly this picturesque line, which skirted the coast all the way from Saltburn to Whitby and from Whitby to Scarborough, has vanished, leaving only the mineral railway from Saltburn to Boulby Potash Mine.

 The locomotive leading the mixed passenger/goods train is an ex-Great Central Railways Robinson A5 4-6-2 Pacific tank - well at home on this demanding coastal line.

Yes I like this photo and that is why I published it taken from inside the alum tunnel.
(photo courtesy of Julie Morrison)

Quite a few comments about the brickwheel gang, this one has Harry Dack’s twin brother second from the right.  Anyone know th names of the other men?
(photo courtesy of Derick Pearson)

A view from the cliff looking down on the alum house at Hummersea.

Thanks to Tina Dowey for the loan of this card that was posted in 1907.

A long walk by Hummersea farm to get to this beach, but well worth it, as we can see frequented by local people. I never knew what the ruins were, can anyone out there help?

(The ruins were the remains of the old alum house associated with Hummersea Alum Mine – Rodders)

This photograph shows the bottom of the steps down from Hummersea Farm to the beach.  The stone-built structure is thought to have been used as a kiln for the burning of cemenstone – which was obtained from the uppermost levels of the alum shale.

Thanks to John Roberts for the photo.  Information re the kiln from ’Steeped in History’ edited by I. Miller.

This photo shows the new steps in place, down the cliff from Hummersea Farm to the beach, in November 2006.  The old kiln looks the same as in the earlier photo.  Are the steps still there, or have they been damaged by the sea?

Thanks to John Roberts for the photo.

This photograph of Harry Grange and Mr. Burnley was taken on Skinningrove Works.  Mr. Grange was a research chemist at the steel works. His daughter Carolyn is unsure about the identity of the other gentleman in the image, it could possibly be Norman Dales?

(Image courtesy of Carolyn Richards)

I don’t know what the occasion was.   Carolyn Richard’s father, Harry Grange, is standing in the middle at the back of the group.

(Image courtesy of Carolyn Richards).

We haven’t many photo’s of this pit not as well known as many of the others in the area.
(photo courtesy of Derick Pearson)

Once again a lovely drawing of a mine I must admit I hadn’t heard of before, are there any other photographs of this mine out there?  Please share
(image coutesy of Joan Webster)

Preserved K1 Class, 62005, rounds the bend at Huntcliff, passing the remains of the old Guibal Fanhouse on a Trainspotter’s Special on the 10th May 2008
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

Part of the Laboratory staff photographed during lunch break outside the laboratories in January 1947, the photograph bears this date on the back. 
Back row: Alf James, Clive Lawson, Norman Dales.
Front row: Harry Grange, Donald Pell, Nancy Rudham, John Donavon, Elizabeth Ferrer, George Allison, Audrey Keen (later Dales). Harry Grange apparently set the camera up to take a time release exposure and then joined the group.

(Image courtesy of Carolyn Richards, thanks to Jean Yardy and Elizabeth Ferrer for names and information updates)

Once again a photo believed to have been taken between 1880 and 1895, but it is not as we know Saltburn today.
(photograph courtesy of Pem Holliday and thanks to David Richardson for the update)

Another photograph relating to the dismantling of Huntcliffe Mines after the closure in 1906. This picture is of the dismantling of the tipping gantry.

Grateful thanks to Simon Chapman for the information.

Rosedale West is where this station is and I am sure that you will be able to tell me more about this photo loaned courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum

The photograph shows the last ”working” day of Huntcliffe Mines, 30th June 1906. The photograph was taken outside the workshops, alas now longer with us. All that remains is the Guibal Fanhouse beside the mineral railway line, towards the cliff edge at the bottom of Warsett Hill. The writing on the door of the wall behind ”Are we downhearted?” is from a song popular at that time, perhaps relevant to the situation!  With Simon Chapman’s assistance we can identify some of those present.

Back Row: ?? , Mr Stephens (later Cashier at Lumpsey Mine), Ralph Clough (engineer-later at Lumpsey Mine), ?? , ?? , ?? , ??.

Middle Row: Jimmy Dower (partially cut off), ??, ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , William (Bill) Garbutt (baby – who later worked at Kilton Mine, one of the first men to drive a locomotive underground and later Miner’s Lodge Secretary), ?? , ?? , Mr Matson (possibly a Manager).

Front Row: ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? , ?? .

Paul Garbutt tells us: ”The baby in the photo, Bill Garbutt, was my grandfather and this is the only photo of him as a baby, he went on to work in the local mines and he was one of the main rescuers after the Kilton Mine explosion in May 1954. He never commented on the explosion and his subsequent actions in saving the injured miners, my father remembers that he came home that night and was a bit groggy and not his usual self ( the after effects of the gas explosion presumably ). The Evening Gazette reported on the disaster but my grandfather would not be interviewed, regarding the matter to be not worth discussing. My grandfather was an intensely private man and these few snippets of information are pretty much all we know about him, i just knew him once he was retired from work so never had the opportunity to find out about his employment history. He would never talk about himself much at all and especially not the Kilton Mine incident even though he helped save many of the miners, he was my hero regardless.” Similarly Alan Found tells us:”My grandfather worked at kilton mine he would have been there in 1954 he never talked about the explosion.”

Thanks to Paul and Alan for these details, as well Simon Chapman for his assistance, any further any help would be much appreciated.

Bell’s pit, due to its ownership by Bell Brothers, at Carlin How, more popularly known as ”Duck Hole” (because of the very wet working conditions), was towards the end of its working life known as North Loftus Mine.

Nice photo, taken this time from Mill Bank. Glover’s Path can be seen as can the buildings to the left of the photo belonging to Whitecliffe mine.  The old railway bridge is very clear, as are the steel works back right.

Carlin How mine was known to the miners as Duck Hole owing to the wet working conditions.

Don’t think the date is 1935 though. Duckhole closed in 1944 and as you can see the headgear has been demolished. The chimney for North Loftus pit can still be seen so my guess for date is about 1950.

Thank you for that information Simon, don’t know what I would do without your input.

Another photo of Duckhole mine and once again we can clearly see the works on the hill, come on you people out there what date would this be taken, help a lady (I use the term loosely) out.

My guess would be about 1930.    Thank you Simon what would I do without you?

The image is taken from a series of photographs produced by Bruce who was a Loftus photographer, producing lots of images around old Cleveland. Many considered the name was emphasised because of the link to de Bruce of Skelton Castle and Kilton. THanks to Derick Pearson for the update and information. John

Not a very clear picture but we can make out Glover’s Path and Kilton Mill and on the hillside ’Duck Hole’ pit. It got this name because of the working conditions; it was so wet the men could be ankle deep or more in water while working down there – it’s real name was North Loftus Mine.

Also to be seen in the picture are the remains of the original Whitecliffe mine. North Loftus mine was completely separate and only worked as an independent mine in the 1870s’. Later the shaft was acquired by Skinningrove Iron Co. and used to raise ironstone from Carlin How and Loftus mines, only being infilled about 1947.

Thanks to Simon Chapman for the addition to this post

A rather good shot of Liverton Mine, waiting for someone out there to tell me where it was taken from.

(photo courtesy of Mike Holliday)

Another memory jogging photo of when the train could pull right up to the Zetland Hotel

(photo courtesy of Mike Holliday)

Now you train spotters out there where is this I know you wil be able to tell me,  just reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine

Derick Pearson with assistance from Russ Piggott informs us:
Image shows Left to right…
67281. was the last surviving example of a G5, She was an 0-4-4T type. She was withdrawn by British rail in 1958.

43073. is definitely a Ivatt Class 4 and the last photo I have of her is leaving Roose Railway station, Barrow-in-Furness in 1960. Where she ended up I do not know.

67663. Was a V1 2-6-2T Gresley. The Class V3 Gresley was introduced 1939, built on the same chassis and everything else. Appearance was much the same as the V1 but the V3 had a Higher Boiler Pressure. This one is the earlier V1.

63340. Is as Russ says a Q6. It was originally a N.E.R class T2 0-8-0. Classified as a Q6 by the L.N.E.R. 120 were built at Darlington works between 1913 and 1921 to the design of Vincent Raven. They were based on the N.E.R Class T and T1- L.E.N.R – Q5s.
All passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and they were numbered from 63340 to 63459. 63372 was withdrawn in 1960 after an accident. The others were withdrawn from 1963 to 1967. Only one of them, the 63395 has survived to preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. She re-entered service after a major overhall in 2007.

67685. Was A Gresley 3 cyl V3. The last reference I have to her is at Battersby Junction near Gt Ayton.
Hope this sorts that one out

(photo courtesy of Mike Holliday, but now known to be from a CD produced by Derick Pearson.)

This is a nice photo of Carlin How Square in the early 1950s. Notice all the telephone wires going to the large chimney stack on the centre house rather than to the lamppost as today. Also note the bus stand on the left where everyone used to catch the bus Loftus / Whitby Bound. The Bus on the right is marked Workmen, it is obviously the day shift ending time from Skinningrove works. Note also what was called Cunningham’s house in the centre of the junction at that time.

(photo and caption courtesy Derick Pearson)

I remember when we lived at East Loftus about this time a ’works return’ for dad used to be 3d a day, what’s that in today’s money less than 2p? joanj

A view of the works looking over the top of the valley from the cliffs near Hummersea. 

Eric Johnson tells us:
From the left. the new 36 inch mill can be seen; moving right the soaking pits, then next right the solitary large chimney of the original 250 ton tilting furnace of the talbots (melting shop). At the right of the photo, in front of the blast furnaces, the coke ovens are under construction, I believe they came on stream in 1911. During the Great War, extra furnaces and mixer were added to the talbots, the soaking pits were extended, a second battery of coke ovens erected, and in 1918/19 a 18,000 hp electric motor installed in the 36 inch mill.I would date this photo to 1910.

Thanks Eric for the update.

This is a BR Standard loco, number 77012, standing light engine in Kettleness Station.

Another station which has found a new lease of life – as a Scout Activity Centre – the coast line being closed some 5 years before Dr Beeching. Useage was only heavy in the summer, whilst the tunnels and bridges were expensive to maintain. (Thanks to Simon Chapman).

Taken from the railway lines above, the picture clearly shows Duckhole in the foreground with Skinningrove or Loftus pit farther down in the valley.

The caption on this photo says ’Mine horses  out to graze during holidays near Claphow, North Skelton mine in the backgound.  So who am I to argue?

A lovely clear shot of the mine, looks as though it’s in full production.

One in a series of photographs of North Skelton mine, the caption says taken from the north about 1900.

A photograph taken in the 1960’s before the closure of the mine.

A shift of miners outside the clock office at Morrison’s Pit.  Can anybody name them?

An excellent hand tinted postcard of the railway station in possibly 1907.

Looks different now.

Skelton station as we have never seen it, once again a lovely drawing, the station was South-East along the railway from Hollybush Bridge. It opened on 01.07.1902 and was closed to passangers on 10.09.1951, it was completely closed on 21.01.1964.    The building to the left of the picture was the Station Masters house which still stands.

North Skelton Station was at Holybush where Wilkinson Brothers Car Breakers yard is. I can remember some platforms still being there and am sure this is the one depicted in the etching. Stonehouse Brothers had this yard for coaches before Wilkinson Brothers and they would probably be able to confirm this if they see it. Just a little further along the line was Long Acres Pit which is also shown on site.

(image courtesy of Joan Webster and thanks to David Richardson and Derick Pearson.

Yes I know we have a photo of this bridge but not like this look at all those bricks, how long to draw all those?
(image courtesy of Joan Webster)

Calcining Kilns and materials hoist at Lingdale mine.

Eric Johnson informs us: ”this drawing of the calcining kilns and materials hoist. The 3 kilns were originally on the island of RAASAY in the Inner Hebrides, dismantled in about 1943, each part carefully numbered and loaded into ships. One local man John Macleod was killed in the hold when the sling broke. The kilns were taken to Lingdale and re-erected shortly afterwards.” Thanks to Eric for the information.
(image courtesy of Joan Webster)

How clearly the pit wheel shows up.
(image courtesy of Joan Webster)

A wonderful drawing of Skelton mine by H Harrison,
(image courtesy of Joan Webster nee Robinson of Skelton)

That looks like a ”Front Side Crew”, iron furnace in the background and the gentleman in the centre seems to be standing over the sow channel for the molten iron. Far right hand side possibly ”Furnace Keeper”.

I don’t think it’s No. 5 which was an altogether larger affair and tipped into ladles, not pig-beds, so it must be one of the earlier bank of 5 furnaces which have adorned quite a few postcards, but which furnace and why the occasion for a photograph?

It couldn’t be a steel furnace, because Skinningrove furnaces were Siemens-Martin Basic Open Hearth furnaces and they all tilted back to tap (and forwards to tip slag). The problem is that there are the right number of men to crew a steel furnace (and that seems to be the progression from right to left, foreman then 1st hand through to 4th hand) – this one is a real enigma – anybody out there who can shed some light on the situation?

The gent on the right is wearing a fob watch which would suggest pre-1918.

This one of a series of photgraphs which are now starting to appear of the dropping of the boiler house chimney, at Brotton Mine in 1921.

Many thanks to Simon Chapman for the information – John)

One of the two Rail Bridges at Claphow, Stanghow Road (the road connecting New Skelton directly to Lingdale). Due to mining subsidence the bridge was strengthen with the addition of a second arch inside the original arch. A buttress was added at the right hand side and four iron rods inserted through the parapet, whilst the left hand side was concreted.

(Image and information courtesy of Eric Johnson)

A working photo of the aerial ropeway, locally known as ’the buckets’. We can see a full bucket of ironstone being taken up to the iron and steel works, with the mine in the distance at the bottom of the picture.

Loftus mines ironstone was transported up to Skinningrove Works from 1895 by connection into the abandoned workings of the North Loftus mine to avoid paying haulage charges to the N.E.R. By 1932 the North Loftus shaft steam winding equipment was thoroughly antiquated so the aerial ropeway was built to avoid using the shaft which was later filled in.

Thanks to Simon Chapman for information in the last paragraph.

At some point in the history of the ironstone industry in the Skinningrove valley the NER tried to raise the carrying costs for iron ore.  As a result the NER lost the business (for good), an aerial ropeway (known locally as ”the buckets”) was constructed to take the stone from the valley floor up to Skinningrove Ironworks on the cliff top.  This is the middle stanchion, the roofed structure over the road was to catch any falling stone jerked out of the buckets as a result of passing over the stanchion pulleys.  This system was in use until local stone was superceded by cheaper foreign ores. (The topmost stanchion was still in place at the top gates of Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works when I worked there, adapted as a floodlight tower!)

As the caption on the photo says – Liverton Mines chimney stack felled on Tuesday 24th August 1926

A clever sketch by someone of a Zeppelin raid over Skinningrove Ironworks, anyone know the origins of this sketch?

We have been offered the suggestion (by Derick Pearson) that S. Grayson may have been the creator of this particular postcard, does anybody have any update on that. John

Nice dog wonder who it’s owner is, does anyone out there know?  I am sure someone will.

Mr Brown arriving at the mine, who was Mr Brown?

Now I do know that these are some of the workmen from the mine but what date would it be?

A view of the former Hummersea alum workings, almost disappearing under the eroded surface.

The stone outlines are the remains of liquor channels used to move the resultant liquids to the settling tanks.

Thanks to Eric Johnson for the photographs and information.

Obviously pre 1958 with a steam train, headed by Class L1 2-6-4t.No.67750 was constructed by the North British Locomotive Co. (NB Loco.Co) and was entered into British Railways active records on 9th December 1948. It was withdrawn from service on 9th December 1961. Approaching Easington and the tunnel from Loftus, at the former site of Grinkle station (Easington)with a Whitby to M’bro train. The original photograph was taken by the late Ken Hoole and the Ken Hoole Study Centre at Darlington owns the negative.

Thanks to Alan Featonby and Chris Davies for the updates and confirmation of location.

Here L1 2-6-4T number 67754 stands adjacent to the signal box with a mixed train of 2nd/3rd class composite coaches, the first carriage being quite a modern example, while the rest are pre-1939.

Engine no 67754 was in charge of the last passenger train from Whitby to Loftus, in 1958. on the left of the photo behind the boys on the platform can be seen a camping coach, several of the stations between here and Scarborough had these carriages in sidings at the stations, for holliday makers. thank you for that information Eric,  all help gratefully accepted, joanj.

The old station building still stands, it is now a private house, but still is an obvious former railway building.

Here’s a view of the bottom pylon of ’The Buckets’ complete with protective screen above the road. Just to the left of the pylon can be seen the air shaft for the mine.

This is the sight you would have seen entering Skinningrove,  Loftus mine was to the right and the ropeway took ironstone from the mine to the steel works on the top of the hill, on it’s return it brought shale which was tipped at the back of the mine.  This ropeway was known locally as ’the buckets’.

Liverton works, with the spray bars in the right-foreground

Taken in 1933 this shows the brick wheel and the work force on the steel works.

The purpose of the brick wheel was to make bricks from molten blast furnace slag, many of these bricks can be found in most back alleys. Eic Jonson supplies the following brief description of brickmaking: ”the slag was brought from the furnaces in slag ladles adapted with a tap hole. a chute was placed between this and led down to the wheel moulds. the making of slag bricks was a very labour intensive operation, once started was continuous, hard hot work. the wheel was a steel circular construction, with the steel moulds round the perimeter they had a hinged bottom held with a catch. this can be all be seen in the photo. the wheel was driven by a geared electric motor with hand operated backup. as the slag ran down the chute into the moulds, the wheel rotated, the filled moulds cooled down and at a point near the kilns, the catch was struck the hinged bottom opened the hot brick fell to the ground. It was picked up with the large “gripes”. some of the men can be seen holding in photo, carried to the kilns and stacked inside, when full the kiln was closed. as the kiln was already hot from the previous batch the working conditions for the men can be imagined.”

Second man front right is Harry Dack from Carlin How anyone know any more of the men here?

(photo courtesy of Derick Pearson and updates from Robert Proctor and Eric Johnson)

Taken in the 1950’s the iron and steel works were at full production and covered a large area.

The 4 large chimneys are the exhaust chimneys for the furnaces on the melting shop, on the cliff edge can be seen No. 5 Blast Furnace.

…in a place appropriately called the Stripping Sheds. The numbers on the moulds provide traceability to the cast from which the steel was made (probably the pot too). From here the ingots went to the Soaking Pits to be kept at an even temperature ready for Cogging.

Thanks to Derick for spotting an error in the original post, but on going back to the image file we have discovered the ingot size to be 4.75 tons.

Not boys from the blackstuff, but boys from the potash mine. This photo was taken outside the surface workshops.

From L to R: Bob Beadnell, Jack Wren, Wilf Mackinder, Gordon Fletcher, Albert Breckon, Jimmy Warral, John Richardson, Les Atkinson, Mel Picket, Raymond Pearson, Frank Smith, Ray Broom, John James, Colin Philipson, Alan Cox, Terry Robinson, Jeff Verrill, Dennis Bulman, and last but not least Colin Readman.

A fairly modern view of Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works from the Hummersea Cliff road. No. 5 Blast Furnace in evidence – and under that water tower on the cliff edge was the Day Laboratory where I spent my formative years, learning my trade under the watchful eyes (and ears) of ”Effie” Brown, Harry Burnley, Harry Grange and Norman Dale.

Underground at North Skelton, I am not going to hazard a guess at to what is going on in this photo, I am going to wait for someone out there to tell me.

I believe its a Walker compressed air drill. This information came from Chris Twigg, thank you Chris.

Here’s a good image of a Cranner Loader in action at North Skelton Mine.  Quite a late image, judging by the headgear and electric lamps.  North Skelton Mine was the last of the Cleveland Mines to close, so this image could be as late as 1963.

A newspaper cutting showing the underground stables at ”Duckhole” pit (so named because it was one of the wettest pits in the Cleveland System) about 1930-40.  This pit was eventually worked from Lumpsey mine at Brotton.

The horsekeeper was Bob Robinson, who has specially put on his helmet for the picture. That round object at the bottom right of the picture is his cap! (words by Simon Chapman)

To the bottom left are the stables, then comes Overman’s Cottages (hoss muck terrace, as it was known by the locals) then what looks like a bridge is where the stone from Loftus mine was taken to Duck Hole and up the shaft to the works at the top of the bank.  This happened when the railway put up the charge for the mine using the zig zag line.  Kilton viaduct can just be seen and Mill Bank snakes it’s way to the top of the photo.  We must not forget the children posing in the front of the photo, it was wonderful how the word got round when the photographer was coming.

Well that is what it says on the back of the photo along with ’pre war’ and the names of those in the picture are Lenny Calvert, Ernie Johnson, Charlie Vodden and Tot Porrit.

(image courtesy of Kathleen Hicks)

A Class 37 in Railfreight livery passes what looks like a Class 31 stranded on the roads at Crag Hall, by the lean on it it looks like a broken spring.
As Russ tells us ”The 31 is actually derailed. It came off on the points leading to the headshunt that are worked from the box. I was having my annual assessment at the time and so was the signalman. Also the train was an inspection saloon from York, Ive never seen so many gaffers in one spot!  The cause was put down to poor maintainece of the point rodding and as the chief signalling engineer was in the saloon I reckon he would have got a lot of stick afterwards!” – which just goes to show what I know! – rodders

(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Class 31, 31549, receives attention from the engineers at Crag Hall, notice the heavy lifting jack in use, broken spring or shattered axlebox?
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Looks like they got it fixed – it’s now sat level on the 4 foot, running lights are on and the engineers are retiring to their carriage. (no doubt for tea and tiffin!).
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

  Loftus Mine at full production.

At the right hand side is what was known as the wood yard where the wood for the pit props was stored.

Mill Bank is just visible at the far right and in the foreground are the stables.

Okay you railway buffs out there I know this is a train and I know it’s a steam train ’cos I can see the steam, but now I await you telling me more about it.

That’s a WD on a train from Skinningrove at Huntcliffe, roughly where the ring shaped sculpture is, making a racket no doubt, it looks windy but the exhaust is been blasted skywards.

Thank you Mark, I new some gentleman would come along and tell me all about it.

(image courtesy of Eric Johnson)

I  have it on good information that this is Saltburn viaduct, a steam train with a rake wagons filled with  ironstone passing over it. 

(image courtesy of Eric Johnson)

Well I have been informed that it is Twizziegill culvert and the digging of the railway and this has now been confirmed by David Richardson.
(photo courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and thanks to David for the confirmation)

A serene snow-covered image taken from Carlin How, probably from near the entrance to Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works, belying the gritty industrialised nature of the area.

Salient features are The Stables, Overman’s Cottages and the Woodyard in the valley, the shale tip next to Deepdale Wood and Loftus Mill Bank.

(A light dusting of snow, but you can still make out Overman’s Cottages, with the mine to the rear and  Mill Bank snaking it’s way  to Loftus.  The shale heaps look almost like mountains with their covering of snow. – Joanj)

You can see from this much earlier image how light and open the valley was originally.  I wonder if the viaduct had been built with arched spans whether the problem would still have manifested itself.  I’d need an engineer to tell me – is there an engineer in the house?

Simon Chapman tells us: ”

Kilton Viaduct opened for traffic in 1867 and was later filled in with shale to create a massive embankment so that mining could take place beneath it. During this work which took years, one of the pillars showed signs of stress possibly because of uneven tipping, so traffic over was stopped for a fortnight until the problem was remedied. So if the viaduct had been built with arches it would still have ended up as we see it today.”

Thanks to Simon for the update.

A beautiful valley and an elegant structure, before the viaduct became unstable and was filled in with waste from the mine to create an embankment.

The caption says where it is and what date it is so who am I to argue?

Three men in rather a dangerous position, does anyone know when the minehead gear was replaced?

Simons book dates this photo to around 1900

This picture shows work being carried out on the upcast headgear about 1900 which was a wooden construction. It was replaced by a smaller steel structure in 1937.
The headgear over the main drawing shaft was also wooden until 1918 when it was replaced, again by a steel headgear.

Thank you Simon chapman for this information

A lovely clear photograph of Lumpsey mine at Brotton. Some ruins of the buildings still remain with the shaft being capped off.

A lovely clear photo dated and named.

A lot of tubs waiting to go to the Iron and steel works and the pit props waiting to go down into the mine.

Another dawing by Mr Harrison, look at all those pit props carefully drawn.
(image courtesy of Joan Webster nee Robinson)

One of Brotton Lumpsey Mine in 1920s. Police and Mine security out in force. Possibly linked to the General Strike in 1926, except that after World War I, Constables and Sergeants wore helmets. Eric Johnson suggests they could be Special Constables.

We have been advised by Simon Chapman: ”The pumphouse between the shafts was built in 1908, the main heagear was replaced by steel in 1918, so the picture was taken between these two dates. My guess is 1912.”

(photo courtesy of Derick Pearson and thanks to Simon for that update.)

A lovely photo showing some of the buildings of Lumpsey Mine with four of the workmen.

This postcard is a lovely example of early colour photography.  The original was posted in Loftus on July 30, 1905.

Tom Codling is standing on the left of this group.

Stan Bowman kneeling on right.

Who are the rest, and believed to have been taken outside the talbots laboratories Skinningrove Works?

(Image courtesy of Mrs. J. Wilson. Thanks to Eric Johnson for the update.)

X marks the spot not of treasure, but of the unsafe pillar of the viaduct that caused it to be filled in with spoil from the mines.

(X marks the unsafe pillar of the Loftus to Carlin How Viaduct. The condition of the pillar lead to the creation of the culvert to house the Kilton Beck and the infilling of the viaduct with iron stone mining waste to create the embankment we still see today. – John G)

Kilton Viaduct was infilled from 1907 to 1914 primarily so that ironstone could be worked from beneath it, particularly from the Carlin How mine. The picture was taken in 1911 when one pier cracked and train services were suspended for a fortnight while remedial action was taken.

Thank you once again Simon Chapman

From Carlin How once again (this time captioned ”Loftus Mines”) the stables are centre foreground with Overmen’s Cottages behind them (lovingly named ”Hoss Muck Row” by the locals, for obvious reasons).  Behind that the picking belt and heapstead.

Another shot of Skinningrove Mine, looking straight onto it from Carlin How.  The ”Zig-Zag” in the foreground with Duckhole just on the right.  The stables left middle with Overmen’s Cottages next to them.  Deepdale woods and the shale heap are right background.

I’ve never seen a view from this angle before and I’m still trying to get to grips with it.  Carlin How in the background, with the ”Zig-Zag” cutting across the middle of the picture. The building directly in front is the loading shed where the iron ore was loaded into standard gauge wagons. I think I need help with this one please!

I think the image was taken from the road from Deepdale woods to Skinningrove village.

A good image of Skinningrove valley, post-1911, showing just how busy this little valley was!  On the left we have Skinningrove Mine, with the stables and just visible the Overmen’s Houses and on the right we have Duckhole Pit just coming into the picture.  Liverton Mill takes the stage left of centre in the middle, the viaduct (now an embankment) away in the background and towering over it all in the haze is Liverton Mines shale heap.  The sweep of rail track cutting through the image is the ”Zig-Zag”.  The picture very obviously taken from Carlin How.

A close view of the chimney at the mine at Loftus as it slowly falls.

I would suggest that this is Loftus (Skinningrove) mines chimney being demolished.
In the background you can see the Staple shaft from “Duckhole” mine. This is still in
existance today. This mine was eventually linked to Lumpsey mine at Brotton, and worked from that shaft. Just to the
right, off the photograph, is what we now know as the Cleveland Ironstone mining museum.

This was the chimney at Loftus mines being felled in 1912.

It doesn’t always go smoothly underground – I can imagine this caused considerable hazard underground, loads of toxic fumes, smoke and, worst of all, a lack of oxygen.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

An example of the immense working pressures involved. This pillar was  located in the far south of the mine in a panel mined late 2001 and completed early 2002, (and the instability of the crystal structures involved, possibly).

(image courtesy of A Franks and information kindly supplied by Tim Coleman – who actually took this image when he was the Rock Mechanics Engineer at Boulby.)

An accident at Boulby Potash, the vehicle has gone from one level to another the short way!

(image courtesy of A Franks)

Just to show that even modern mining isn’t without its hazards, here’s an image of a roof fall caused by the somewhat unstable (in air) compound Carnalite.

(Carnalite (KMgCl3·6H2O, hydrous magnesium and potassium chloride). Carnalite crystallizes in a rhombic system and has a hardness of 2.5, the same as the finger nail. It usually displays a granular structure. Carnalite can be colourless, pinkish or reddish, always with a vitreous gloss. Carnalite is deliquescent, it dissolves even in the air humidity. Its taste is salty, spicy after the potassium and bitter after the magnesium content – from a web definition, rodders)
(image courtesy of A Franks)

Sometimes it just isn’t your day! Running repairs on a big Cat!

(image courtesy of A Franks)

The Mine Manager and various Officials of Lumpsey Pit.

Standing (L to R): ??, William Stephens, ??, ??, Mr Clough Jnr (son of Mr Clough Engineer).

Seated (L to R): Mr. Clough (Engineer), Mr. Dixon (Manager), ??.

Simon Chapman advises us: ” Mr Stephens is the chap standing at the left with the light-coloured cap and the well-starched collar. The chap standing at the right with the bowler hat and the bushy moustache I think was Mr Clough, son of the engineer sitting front left.”

Rod Umpleby tells us: ”William Stephens who was shown previously in the photo 1906 of the closure of Huntcliffe Mine. He was described as later cashier at Lumsey Mine. He was my great great uncle and the 1911 census gave his occupation as mines treasurer.”

Thanks to Rod and Simon for these updates and can anybody assist with any more names and information?

Named and dated again, but can you name any of the men?

The end of a shift at least that is what I am presuming, as some of the men have logs under their arms these would be the off cuts from the pit props.  Anyone recognise any of the men in this photo?

Not the most charming group of men I have ever seen, I think they must be some of the work force of Lumpsey Mine, can I presume that the man in the middle is a blacksmith?  Gentlemen please correct me if I am wrong.  Not a gentleman to correct me but a lady, now can anyone identify any kin folk?

I think the blacksmith is James Kennedy on the photo, as he was recorded as a Blacksmith in 1911, whilst his brother John was listed as a Platelayer Underground.
The container held by the miner on the right was for carrying water or cold tea; it was known as a ‘Dudley’.

Left to right from the back row:

B Catron; J Wilks; T Clay; W Clay; H Clay; W Marshall; C Bealwall; R Marley; J.W. Marshall; J Walton; J Clay; G Best; S Webb; T Curtley; R Clough; R Peacock; W Cross; T Jackson; J Kennedy; D Annear; T Marshall; J Beadon.

What more can I say about this photo the heading says it all.

A series of photographs showing Lumpsy Mine, in this one we can see the man bending at the front has put the’ sprag ’into the wheel of the tub to stop it moving, the sprags were very heavy.  Many of the horse leaders had serious accidents throwing the sprag into the wheel of the moving tub, if they didn’t get it right then it often came back onto their legs, we have to remember tht the mines were not level they had to follow the seam of ironstone up hill and down dale.

How much ironstone can one filler get into a tub?  By the look of that tub quite a lot if you know how to load it.

Note that the guy in the background appears to be using a hand-operated rotary drill, a so-called ratchet. The props are deliberately cut to a bit of a point at the base so that if weight started to come on the working place this weaker part of the prop would start to ‘bunch-up’ and therefore give a visual warning.

Once again thank you Simon for the extra information

After being puzzled by this image – it’s obviously posed, so was it for a training manual?  The ladder on the right looks like a metal ladder, when were they introduced?  The loader is wearing a tin hat (safety helmet, bump hat), so it was after the introduction of the safety helmet, but his colleagues don’t appear to be wearing theirs, so it must have been before they became compulsory.

Simon Chapman tells us: ”This picture appears in an article on Cleveland Ironstone Mining in the Iron and Coal Trades Review of September 1939 and the photos. are credited to The Yorkshire Post, so the newspaper must have had a recent article about the mines. I was told years ago that the picture was taken at Lumpsey.”

Thanks to Simon for the update.

Are these men coming off shift or going on?  No safety helmets, so we can surmise it’s before the mid 1930’s.

An early shot of the stables at the mine at Loftus, taken before the horses and the men walked down into the mine to work their shift.

A lovely shot of the stable yard with two of the horses and their handlers.  They were used to pull the wagons loaded with ironstone from the mine.  If their usual handler wasn’t there these horses could be very awkward to any other man trying to work with them.  Although there were stables underground, the horses were brought out on a regular basis to enjoy time in the field belonging to the mine.

A Cummins tells us: ”The building to the left was the foremans house, the building with the open door was the wash down room where the horses were bathed, and the hill in the background is the bankside up to Carlin How, where the railway ran.The stables are between the house and the washroom. My father sometimes looked after the horses and I often had a little sit on them.” Thanks for that update.

A picture taken without the benefit of flash and against the internal lighting, it still shows the Gas Turbine-driven alternator and in the background those beautiful Gas Motors that used to thud out night and day! This was a most beautiful building inside and although the picture doesn’t show it very well, the whole of the back wall was covered in 1900’s instrumentation. The floor was red earthenware tiles and there was lots of Victorian/Edwardian woodwork. I used to collect water samples from the feeds that were just as you came into the building, behind the photographer (who is on the balcony), walk along the tiled floor, past these monsters and out through the door within a door within the huge doors to sample the water in the brick outside reservoir tanks every morning for about six or seven months – it was a time capsule!
(image courtesy of Reg Dunning)

Here is a picture that is familiar to me, a train of slag wagons tipping their loads at the Tarmac Roadstone Plant on Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works. One wagon is already being tipped while the others wait their turn. Reg Dunning’s father worked the Bucyrus crane that fed the crusher plant that produced roadstone, that was transported in Tarmac Roadstone lorries, which my father-in-law used to service and maintain.
(image courtesy of Reg Dunning)

A pair of Class 20s, led by 20070, cross the new bridge at Carlin How with a train of loaded Potash Hoppers. Both locos are equipped with multiple working connections, the second man being the guard. Both locos in ”Small Arrow” livery, and it looks like the Thornaby Kingfisher on the side (thanks for the verification Russ – rodders).
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

This is the cutting to go with the previous  image.  As usual the Gazette writer has forgotten that without the Steel Works ”scar” there would be no villages, just a group of farms and outbuildings, and the coastal outline would have changed dramatically due to coastal erosion (Skinningrove used to tip slag over the cliff edge at Cattersty) and he wouldn’t be talking about the new Finishing Department anyway!

(image courtesy of Colin Hart)

(cutting copyright Evening Gazette)

This is an aerial view of Skinningrove works showing the new Finishing Departments nearing completion.

(image courtesy of Colin Hart)

(image copyright Evening Gazette)

Somebody asked, in a comment, when the new Finshing Department buildings (green sheds) went up on Skinningrove, Colin responded by telling me the date, so that I could answer the comment.  He’s now sent me cuttings from ”The Steel News” and ”The Evening Gazette”.  This first one shows the first sods being cut by the oldest and newest employees of Skinny.

(image courtesy of Colin Hart)

(cutting copyright The Steel News)

A late afternoon shot by the look of it, enough haze to fool the exposure meter, but definitely a pair of 37s, both in different BR liveries – the front one sporting the frog-eye headcode boxes.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

A pair of “Large Arrow” liveried Class 37s running light engine at Boulby.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

I seem to remember these weren’t well liked due to a lack of sanders and brakes like a milk float! Notice the steps for the signalman to give and receive block tokens for the single line working. Also the local semaphore set off to give him right of way. A nice gritty black and white image.

Simon Chapman tell us: ”There are still semaphores but they have been replaced with modern safety-minded equipment so that if a technician needs to climb up them for maintenance work he will find it so difficult to fall off. How did they manage climbing signal ladders for the previous 150 years? ”

Image courtesy of Russ Piggot and thanks to Simon Chapman for the update.

I do like this image Russ – captures the ruggedness of the location perfectly with that haze/fog/mist shrouding Boulby Potash right up to the middle ground of the image.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

The well-known gas holder on the right being passed by a late-liveried Class 56 – a vast improvement on the Class 47 – notice the multiple-working connections and lead on the front panel – one driver could drive all the locomotives in a multiple engine set.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

This time with a load of sections from Skinningrove, there’s novel! Full yellow ends and large logo. Never named, but renumbered!
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Taken from the back of the signal box looking towards the works, this image shows the train assembly yards for Skinningrove Works. I can’t make up my mind whether it’s a guard’s van or a small shunter on the rightmost rake of wagons.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

A pair of immaculately turned out Class 20s standing at Crag Hall box with a train – they are being routed into Crag Hall Yard, so I have to assume that its a train of empties for Skinningrove Works.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

This must be a fairly rare image, Guisborough Box (and line) are long gone, just surviving into the diesel era.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

I hated these smelly, noisy, uncomfortable, draughty things – it made the bus worthwhile and a car inevitable. I notice that this is before Redcar Central Station became a business park and the railway became single track.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

The Class 37, like the 25 and the 20, is the unsung hero of the diesel era. A scaled down Class 40 it has pulled everything under the sun, single, double and triple-headed!
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

There is something about black and white and railway images, they just seem to go well together. Here, a Class 37 and a train of empties head across the new bridge at Carlin How enroute to Boulby for loading.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Possibly the same pair as the other post, just rolling with the loaded train.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

Slightly contre-jour, a photo of a couple of Class 20s in the classic nose-to-nose configuration, leaving the loading yard at Boulby Potash, bound for Saltburn Junction.

(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

I told Russ that my favourite diesels were Class 20s, Class 25s and Class 37s – there follows a whole series of lovely images from that privileged track-side position.
(image courtesy of Russ Pigott)

A Class 37, number 37515, passes through Carlin How with a trainload of Potash from Boulby.
Notice the panel over the aperture left from the removal of the nose doors.
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

Taken from the bridge at Carlin How, a trainspotter’s special, or was it for Cleveland Potash’s Open Day? Raymond tells me it’s from the early to mid-80’s – the DMU colour scheme fits that era anyway!

Here’s a view of Skinningrove Iron Works looking in towards the Tarmac road gravel plant.  Unless I’m mistaken it shows No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 Blast Furnaces, but no Sinter Plant, so it’s after 1950 and before 1958.

(image courtesy of Bob Proctor)

A long while later and the platform has gone, the car park has arrived and a special makes its way from Redcar towards Black Bridge (must be a preserved loco on a charter run).

How many of you remember the excursion platform at Redcar? Well, there’s a car park there now, but in its heyday it was heaving (Redcar had a beach then, there was no deep water channel in the Tees, no Blast Furnace on the skyline and Redcar had two picture houses and a theatre).
I count 3 engines in steam here as well!

I couldn’t resist posting this image! 

David tells me that it’s Castleton Station, but when was a Class 55 ”Deltic” on the Whitby line, I know that there used to be one at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway?

Russ says ”Without sounding too trainspotterish,it was 55002 on a special to Whitby in summer 1981. I remember seeing it go through Ayton”.

Craig tells us: ”55002 did two Merrymakers from Newcastle to Whitby on 02/08/81 via Durham, Ferryhill, Stockton, and the 2nd one on the 30/08/81 via Sunderland, both I believe had what are now termed Mini Tours from Whitby to Middlesborough and return during the day.”

(thanks David, Russ and Craig for the updates)

Here’s a few railway pictures to keep the trainspotters happy (count me in – rodders) an EWS Class 56 no. 56032 standing at Boulby.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

I think this is the same train looking towards the dispersal sidings at the filling bay.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

Class 56 no. 56055 outbound from Boulby with a train of Potash Hoppers. As Russ says, it’s in the LoadHaul livery!  Didn’t know they were all American owned now though – is nothing British anymore!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

EWS Class 56 no. 56032 looking rather clean in this classic shot at Boulby.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

This is a guess on my part – but looking at the train of wagons in the background I guess this hopper fills the rail wagons with Potash.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

OK you troglodytes, time for another set of images from Boulby Potash. Didn’t know they had a Stock Car track down there!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

When you want to move a non-mobile object underground get ahead – get a bucket!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

Seeing this image gives me a new respect for the modern breed of miner – this has to be a pretty bad environment to earn a crust in!

As Alan says: ”Milling Was Done After A Heading Was Mined If There Was Still A Good Grade Of Potash In The Floor Or To Regain A Passable Roof Height If The Roof Had Dropped Or The Floor Had Heaved. It Is Easy Tonnage As Generally No Probe Drilling Or Roof Bolting To Do As In Usual Face Mining.”

Heliminer has now been identified as a 1060 by N Readman, ”motors go straight through into the head and it has no prop shaft.”

(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

Didn’t say it was pretty down there – I suppose all of the kit gets like this eventually. Notice the overhead airway – vital in a mines environment and more so at this depth!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

You know those car stickers that say ’If you can read this you are too close’ – the mining equivalent would be ’If you can see this it’s too late!” A set of charged holes ready for firing – now you can see what the augers are used for.
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

This almost has the look of art – of course without them you can’t see, so a vital piece of utility underground (and EXII as well).
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

Gutted is the word – glad I wasn’t in here when this lot went up!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

I don’t know what a convergence is, but judging by the twisted metalwork and the collapsed crush-stack I guess it’s the onset of pressure, or a geological faulting process.

Alan says: ”Quite A Bit Of Roof Pressure There, If The Chocks And Steel Weren’t There, There Would Be A Big Heap Of Ore On The Ground” – and I believe him!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

Now you can see why those stacks are like they are, when the pressure comes on they crush – like the taper on a pit prop they give early indication of an impending problem!!
(image courtesy of Alan M Franks)

A photograph of Staithes Viaduct, taken from the landward side, I think, showing a 5 coach train travelling towards Whitby, headed by a large tank engine (possibly an A8 (4-6-2T) or maybe a BR Standard tank (2-6-4T) – or even a Thompson  L1 tank (2-6-4T)  – thanks to Mark Thompson).

What a remarkably scenic railway this was – nowadays it would be the ideal candidate for preservation – and we cannot blame Dr Beeching for the closure of the line. As Andrew Hogan tells us: ”This line closed in 1958, Dr. Beeching did not come to power until 1962 and therefore had nothing to do with its closure.”  Thanks to Mark for that update.

Russ Piggott tells us: ”The loco is a class L1 2-6-4t and the photo was taken after 1956 as it has the later BR crest,maybe even closure day as there seems to be a lot of people (enthusiasts?) stood up and looking out of the coach windows.” Thanks to Russ for that update.

Staithes Viaduct, with a local commuter train, powered by a British Railways “Standard” tank engine.  This photograph was probably taken towards the end of the line’s existence, a two carriage train indicating the decline of rail traffic as increased fares and better road links caused migration away from the railways.

A view the viaduct from downstream, looking inland.  The train is heading towards Staithes station. Chris Davies tells us:”The engine is a Raven/Gresley A8 4-6-2t hauling a train of ex-NER and a Thompson suburban brake of the LNER.”

Thanks to Chris for that update.

I wonder if these photographs were taken at the customer’s request or as an early advertisement? A good image of a two wheel cart – too heavy to be a trap do you think?
(image courtesy of Julie Morrison)

A three-quarter view of the same cart, showing us more of the surroundings this time, is this what they called a tumbril?(image courtesy of Julie Morrison)

Dismantling Staithes viaduct (thanks to Eric Johnson for the information).

According to ”Subterranea Britannica” this occured in 1960. (John G.)

A good image of Skinningrove Iron Company, No. 5 in the middle, the sinter plant to the right
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

A picture looking down the valley towards Skinningrove, with the works on the skyline at the left. Taken from the shale heaps, with the pylon base clearly visible.
(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

The inevitable onset of “urban decay” sets in after the closure of the mine and we can see the beginning of its destruction. Taken again from the vantage point of the shale heaps.

(image courtesy of Raymond Brown)

This is a snow scene that rivals the Matterhorn views so beloved of ski holiday advertisements except that these are the shale tips of Liverton Mines!  The strange structure in front of them is the massive foundations for a pylon of the aerial ropeway that caused the huge cone in the background.  I seem to remember a fatality here involving a cycle or a motor cycle which instigated the removal of this well-known landmark?

Loftus station site is featured, with Carnaby Willis Timber Merchants Saw Mill (Carnaby Willis became a local benefactor in later years). The shed roof featured carried the caption heading to this image for many years. Many thanks to Derick Pearson for the update. John

The stationmaster and his porters line up to get their picture taken on Carlin How Station (the name wasn’t changed to Skinningrove until 1903).  Does anybody know who they are?

I’d love to build a model of this station – has anybody any drawings (it’d save me counting bricks – the only other way I know of working out the size of the building!)?

We can see two men hard at work in the blacksmith’s shop at Loftus mine. The man with the file in the foreground is probably the ’smith and his helper behind with his hand on the chimney damper for the fire.

Another group of Loftus miners prepare to go in-bye.  The photographer must have had a busy day!

Can anybody name any of them?

This is a similar shot to the other image of the Loftus Drift, but taken from farther back.  Why the two police officers I don’t know.

There’s an almost surreal look to this image – I’m having a job deciding whether it’s the real thing or an elaborate photographic studio set piece!

This must be the travelling drift, because there’s no sign of any rails for tubs to run on.  It looks like a full shift, right down to the trapper lads.  It can’t be too early on because there are Davey Safety Lamps in view, although no safety helmets.  Shot Cannisters are in evidence, but no picks.

Can anyone name any of these men?

Doesn’t look real  does it?  The train going over Loftus viaduct is dumping shale from the mines to convert the viaduct into an embankment.  The viaduct was seriously weakened by undermining from the ironstone mines, so these drastic measures were taken to fix the problem.

But not by this train – a local commuter makes its way across the skyline towards Loftus as the biggest shale heap in the area takes shape!

Not from outer space but from underground, I really don’t know anything about this photo other than what was written on it ,” Crook rescue Team, Kilton Pit men, Dennis Pearson 1st Back”.  But I am sure someone out there will soon explain things to me. Thank you.

The man stood 2nd from the left on the back was called Bob Walker.  Thank you David.

 Taken from the ’Evening Gazette’ Monday 3 May 1954:Fourteen taken to hospital

It is worth visiting the Durham Mining Museum Site to read the full Mines Inspectors Report on this incident – rodders

On the left is Dennis Pearson, with big Geoge (Ducks) Hollingworth at Kilton B on the right. This photo was taken for the Record breaking venture that took place in Kilton Pit in the early 1950s. 1 week of absolute dedication to drill, shot, fill and lead this stone.
The record breakers were Dennis Pearson from Carlin How – an ex Lingdale lad, George Hollingworth from Lingdale, Stan Tremain from North Skelton I believe, Septimus Bamborough from Carlin How and John Stonehouse senior from Lingdale.
North Skelton claimed to have beaten this record later but it was not recorded as they used more men in the venture and so the output of Stone per man was less. The Kilton record stood and mine manager Andrew Turnbull was justly proud of his men.
Thanks to Derick Pearson for the information.

This is an image I haven’t seen before.  Kilton Viaduct in its ”embanked” state.  It completely alters the aspect of the valley – not for the better either unfortunately.

This is believed to be a view of the Calcining Kilns at Liverton Mines – which were well-known as being associated with the Ironstone Mine. These Kilns obviously dominated the landscape.

Railway wagons at this time were generally wooden bodies but couldn’t be used for carrying hot calcined ore which is why the N.E.R. built a fleet of steel wagons specifically for this traffic; a few can be seen to the left. In front are more steel wagons, built about 1906 to hold a greater tonnage.
A very atmospheric picture!
Thank you Simon your information is invaluable to all who visit the site.

Russ Pigott asked ”Were the larger steel wagons in the picture fitted with vacuum brakes? There seems to be a vac cylinder mounted above the solebar on the end of the wagon. This would seema bit strange as not many locos used on these trains were fitted for vacuum at the time. ”     Answered for us by Simon Chapman.                                                                                                                       ” Well spotted, Russ! Apparently they were actually fitted with air brakes and run as block trains from Liverton to Cargo Fleet works. This was such an unusual working that I can remember the late Ken Hoole trying to find out more information over 30 years ago.
Note the large drum shape above each axlebox on these larger wagons – some form of friction reducing roller which can’t have been very successful otherwise it would have become more common.” 

Russ said ”I thought the drum shape was the operating wheel for the hopper doors. What locos were used on these trains, I think most J21s were westinghouse fitted but the J26s and 27s had no train brakes. That poor remaining J21 sits a mere couple of miles from me looking ever more like a Barry engine!”

Here is an early aerial view of the works – more smoke in this image than in the others!

Not the shot of the blast furnaces that we usually see, but this shows more of the heaps of pig iron awaiting disposal – not sure what the large pipe section is though!

Here’s a nice modern view of No. 5 casting.

As Bob says ”If you ever wanted to view the inside of the furnace then you would use the eye piece, this is at the bottom of the silver goose-necks and looks like a protrusion. You would firstly make sure there was no leaking hot blast (500 C) by moving your hand over the toughened glass eye-piece and then you could see through the blow pipe and tuyere into the heart of the furnace where the droplets of slag/iron cascaded down through the incandescent coke.” 

I say firstly make sure you are wearing your blue glasses (we all did furnace-side), otherwise your eyes will feel the pain! and if you are furnace-side, use your sweat-rag, not your hand – 500C is not good for the skin!  But it is well-worth taking the precautions, it is a beautiful sight.  The glass eye-piece (mica initially, then toughened quarz glass (I think)) is called a pee-pee. – rodders

Here’s a slag pot being filled after the iron has been run off – brings back many memories!

This is one of the older furnaces at Skinningrove with the crew barring out the tap hole, possibly ”Slaggers and Pig Bed Crew” in Skinningrove works,  must be quite an early photo as none of the men are wearing a safety helmet. Middle man front row has his feet in ”Sow” channel for the molten iron.

This shows the steelwork being erected that will eventually contain the structure of No. 5 Blast Furnace.  In the left hand image, the shape at the bottom right is the hearth structure.  This feature was the hardest part of the furnace to remove after it was toppled, being constructed of solid carbon blocks.

This image (pre-1950) shows the left-hand man strapping on his clogs – shaped wooden soles to protect his rocker boots from the heat – before going in to do some hot work on the casting floor.

A shot of a stack of pigs being stock-piled.  The bar in the labourer’s hand is to break the pigs off the sow.

When the furnace has cast, the pigs are attached to the sow and the crew have to go around and break them off and heap them together in slings to be stock-piled.

Welll…not quite. The labourer is spragging the wheel of the slag truck prior to tipping the slag over Cattersty Cliffs. Later whole trains of them were tipped together by using a chain and winch system through the tipping eyes on the side of the pots. You can just see the chain hanging below the pot, to the left of the labourer.  It certainly cast a lovely glow over the scene at night!

A pig bed with the gate irons in place ready to divert the flow of metal to fill the pigs.

These two men are preparing the sand runners (sows) and moulds (pigs) to receive the molten metal from the blast furnace.

This section (without its protective screen over the road) was still in place when I started at Skinningrove – although the roadside pylon disappeared soon after – but the left-most pylon survived to become a lighting tower!

After the 8 (or 12 for the ’Big’ furnaces) hour process of turning a charge of cold and hot metals into steel, the climax usually came quickly after a flurry of samples of steel and slag to the shift lab. The hooter would sound, the bangalore torpedo (more precisely ’the shaped charge’) would blow out the tap hole and the furnace would heel over to discharge it’s first potful of molten metal. The scene always reminded me of what I thought Dante’s Inferno would look like – flames up to the rafters, (sometimes bringing a flurry of pigeons down), the furnace hand on the tapping stage hurling the alloying charges of coal, niobium, ferro-manganese etc. surrounded by smoke and light and heat. The furnace tilting further and further with each potful until it was spent. The pots in their turn travelling sedately to the Ingot Shed across the way and charging rake after rake of ingot moulds with the liquid metal. Sometimes a ’flying stopper’ made it more hazardous to empty the pots as it was then impossible to stop the flow of metal between moulds and everybody in the Ingot Shed would get a scorching (if they were unlucky they’d get a lot worse!) – and, as Bob says, a wet pot could create a shower of incandescent metal dancing around the pitside.

This was always a beautiful sight to behold – a portable spout was placed into the gaping door (usually an end one) of the furnace and with its siren whooping the crane would manouevre the sizzling pot of iron over it, then delicately empty the pot into the furnace – it always reminded me of bonfire night!
I think this must have been taken on my shift (’C’ shift I think it was ), because I recognise the first hand with his back to the camera – Sid Carter (thanks for that Eric!) – he used to let me fettle for him as ’acting-temporary-fifth hand’!

Thanks for pointing out the sample pot Eric – yes, they used to keep us busy around tapping time (well, from about an hour before, right up to blowing 5!) and the sample lad ( a Theaker from Boosbeck, I think) used to curse if the sample was over-quenched and wouldn’t drill!  Sid was always impatient – he would wait in the balance room/bait room pacing up an down while Stan (or Derek, the 2nd Chemist) did the analysis – as a lowly 3rd Chemist I was only allowed to do slags and iron samples!

When I was at Skinningrove this had fallen out of favour and the equipment lay at the end of the Talbot’s, next to ‘D’ furnace. Sound in principle and obviously successful in other areas (this is the basis for Basic Oxygen Steelmaking), it never seemed to catch on at Skinningrove!

This is the view i used to get just out of the door of the Shift Lab on the Talbot’s, the ‘A’ end of a furnace (in this case either ‘B’ or ‘C’). It is easy to see the difference between this image and the image of the gas-fired one in an earlier post. The burner end is mobile for maintenance and carries much more complex pipe work.

Taken from the top of No. 5 perhaps (maybe during its construction in the 1950’s?).

A different view of the iron and steel works, looking inland, and down into the valley.  The two rows of Furnace Cottages can be seen.

I spent the last 12 years or so of my employment here as a metallurgist in the Bottom Test House (just to the right of the water tower and partly hidden by the tall chimney, nearly in the centre of the picture)

Skinningrove Rolling Mills evolved as completely self-sufficient units, capable of developing the rolls for new sections and manufacturing them from blanks. A number of highly skilled men were involved, from the draughtsmen drawing up the profiles, the pattern makers manufacturing the cut profiles for the roll turners to manufacture.The roll turner in the photo is Harry Roberts.
This photo was taken in the old roll shop which was situated under the mill arch and mill gantry crane, proably taken in the late 60’s as the present roll shop came into operation in 1970/71.
Thanks to Mike Hore for the update.

I’m not sure which stand this is in the 18” Mill, perhaps someone can enlighten me?

Raymond Stonehouse advises: ”I believe this view is of the Intermediate and Finishing Stands, looking at them from the Saw side (North Sea).”

Thanks to Raymond for the update.

The same applies here, it was almost a taboo place for the ininitiated, the steel used to hurtle around on the mill floor – very scary!

A view down the shop.  18? mill before remodelling. in 1956.

As the mining industry modernised the coal mine in particular moved across to steel for its roof supports and Skinningrove was quick to capitalise on this, its 18″ (or Little) Mill being ideally suited to producing small ‘H’ beams (or ‘I’ beams, if you prefer) and as the order book grew so did the Colliery Arch Department. They were all cold-formed on these rotary bending machines.

How do you make perfectly finished squared ends to your steel products – with a cropping machine like this.