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. ”The Huntcliff Ironstone Mine, a drift mine, commenced operations in 1872 by which time ventilation techniques had become more sophisticated. Worked on the pillar and bord system, this mine was one of several to be ventilated by a Guibal fan, named after its Belgian inventor. A vertical shaft was driven down to the mining level at the top of which the fan house was erected. A huge 30 foot ( 9 m) diameter fan powered by a static steam engine drew the foul air up the shaft and then up a specially designed chimney to the open air. Once in operation fresh air would be drawn into the mine through the drift entrances and could be controlled and directed by a series of shutters or doors usually operated by young boys.”
Image courtesy of Julie Riddiough; additional information courtesy of ”Coast Alive”.
You have to think twice about this image; it is a view over the top of Carlin How Square with the upper slopes of the former Deepdale tip in the background.
The reservoir used to be where the playing field is now. There was a concrete causeway, about a foot below the water surface, across to the island. Susan Skelton advises: “Bubbles can remember all the frogs and his brother Frank. In my childhood the frog pond was near the swings.”
Image and information courtesy of Joe Ward, thanks to Susan Skelton for the update.
An interesting view of Skelton Cross Green, without the small park with War Memorial now situated beside the modern day traffic lights. Interestingly the large double-fronted shop stood until the end of the last century, when demolition created the space we now see next to the Duke William pub! It is remembered by Roger Barwick: “I can remember going in the shop shown it was called “West End Corn Store” and was a general dealers. I don’t really remember who owned or ran the shop.” Ailsa MacKenzie assisted with: “When I was a child it was run by Mrs Moreland, a widow from Warcop, Cumbria. She had a daughter Angela and son Hebron who lived, I think, in Australia. Also living at the shop was Mrs Moreland ‘s unmarried sister Daisy. This was in the 1959s / early 1960s.” This assisted memories for Bryan Young with: “With Roderick MacKenzie, we used to buy “cannon” bangers and go down the fields. Past Crow Wood and light them in cow pats! I always thought that a fire caused the demolition of the store.”
Image courtesy of several sources, thanks to Roger Barwick, Ailsa MacKenzie and Bryan Young for the memories.
An older black and white image of the corner of Grinkle Lane at Easington church; in some ways not unchanged, although the sign post has long gone. Also the picket fence gates which marked the end of the drive which lead to the Rectory have also gone.
A lovely picture of the walls of Kilton Castle, believed to have been taken in the late 1970’s. Was that when Leeds University used to come in the summer to excavate there? I wish I could have seen it in all its glory.
This lovely photograph shows the castle wall from the other side. Were these just a lookout post or were they there to shoot the arrows through? Julie Riddiough thought they might be linked to a chapel: “Looks like a cross to me.” Susan advised: “It is a crossbow loop, for defending the castle.”
Image courtesy of Ray Brown, thanks to Julie Riddiough and Susan for the updates.
Port Mulgrave, when it actually was a port. Built around 1856-57, it was a very busy place serving the surrounding mines. Empty ironstone trucks are clearly visible on the gantry system; empty trucks to the lower left, awaiting return to the tunnel through to Dalehouse and Grinkle mine to be refilled.
Image courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum.
This is an ‘after’ photograph of the previous image; the port has all but gone now, when did it all go wrong? Image courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum.
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