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This is an early image of Magra Park Mine. 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 an ungated 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 – rodders)
A good group image of the workforce of South Skelton Pit, taken on the 2nd December 1903, with the tools of their trades – if only they’d thought to name them! I wonder what was the occasion?
I’m guessing a bit here, but there’s a fair cross section of society depicted, so I reckon this is the mine manager with his management team. The man seated on the right with the walking stick has a shot cannister under his arm. If somebody could supply names we’d get a better picture!
South Skelton Pit (or Van’s Pit as it was locally known – after the owner, Thomas Vaughan), between Boosbeck and Margrove Park. A nicely compact pit, this image shows the winding shaft and engine house built over and onto the heapstead. The two strange dovecot-type structures in the centre foreground are horse-gins used for working the winding shaft when engineering work was required below.
Not much remains today, the mine manager’s house, two overmen’s houses, the stables and the engine house are about all I can bring to mind. The shale heap at Margrove Ponds Nature Reserve was waste from the mine and the pond itself was caused by subsidence from the mine.
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