East Cleveland Image Archive

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)

Here’s a group of miners (and a pit pony) comprising the last shift coming out-bye at the Trustee Drift, Eston Mine, 18th september 1949.  The mine had worked its 99 year lease – to the day.

You can see the pulleys, rollers and cables of the main and tail haulage system for moving the setts around.

This is an early image of Margrove Park Mine or Magra as it is still known locally. In front of the wooden headgear over the downcast shaft you can see the top of the upcast shaft with the smoke coming from the fire at its base to induce ventilation in the mine. This shaft top was later heightened and a pulley wheel installed on the top; this is now the structure which still survives on the site. The mine closed about 1924. It stood on the site of the present day Caravan Park and connected to the Boosbeck to Middlesbrough railway via a single track which crossed the road from Charltons to Boosbeck with a gated crossing.  The village of Margrove Park (originally Magra Park – after the deer park which was here originally) was built in a large rectangle, one side of which was the local shops – all of which were demolished due to mining subsidence (after the mine had closed and they fell into disuse).  The only remaining example of a shop (the Co-operative) is the pre-fab building on the opposite side of the road to the village garden.

(thanks to Simon Chapman for comments and corrections, also R. Clements for the update on the gates.)

A quirky image by modern standards, but typical of the type of narrative image that occurred in early photography.  Alfred Wither (left) blacksmith for Spawood and South Skelton Mines with his striker (right) and stable-hands, an indispensable part of the iron mining industry, they made and maintained just about every tool in use in the mine.  Just who the well-dressed little boy is in the middle I do not know – can anyone tell me please?

The heading tells us where it is and have the men stopped for a break or just to pose for the photo?

This photo is from the tramway that went in the direction of Saltburn at the Upleatham Mine workings and dates from 1910

Thanks to David for that information

Yes indeed this is a ‘classic’ photograph of Upleatham Miners and NOT Eston .

Again taken c1910 near to the East Winning Mine entrance.

Thank you Mike, what would I do without you men keeping me on the right track?