This photograph can only have been taken in Eston Mine where the height of the Cleveland Main Seam reached maximum thickness here. The miner on the left is holding a light on the end of the pole to help with locating the prop. The sharpened point is very evident. David Richardson suggested: “Eston Mine, in the thick seam district about 1925.” Craig Hornby tells us: ”Again Eston in 1920 is confirmed. Part of a set of photographs taken for the ”Iron and Coal Trades Review”. Eston was the only Cleveland mine where deputies worked in gangs of three, due to the collosal size of the timbers, imported from Norway – apart from during World War I – when imports were interrupted. The woods of Lazenby Bank, just below the 1871 bridge area/ SS Castle were harvested and transported via ‘The New Cut’ a new access route that linked up to the Lazenby-Guisborough cart road at the south-west corner of the present Wilton Golf course. The new cut and cart road are still there, leading down to the Conker Wood layby. The timbers were taken via road to Eston Low Drum or The Tip Yard and sent in at Trustee. Timber was also harvested at this time from the plantations around pit-top and lowered down the ‘smokeshaft’ (Upsall No. 2). The old steam Engine house had been recently replaced by an electric hauler and was used to store timber. Source: George Appleby (Miner 1911-39) speaking to Craig in 1988/89 at age of 91/92 years.”
Image courtesy of George Pearson, thanks to David Richardson and Craig Hornby for complete clarification on this image and the working at Eston mine.
Two Deputies appear to be cutting holes for a baulk to support the roof in a Cleveland ironstone mine, believed to be Eston, but we await confirmation of this location. Craig Hornby gtells us: ”Fantastic picture! Never seen this one before. Wonder where it was taken. Still with candles in cloth caps so no later than 1930s when carbide came in.” Derick Pearson suggests: ”Due to amount of water sweating in on back face, could it have been Kilton or perhaps Duck Hole mine. They were both often wet like this. Also roof height is more in line with those perhaps?”
Image courtesy of George Pearson and thanks to Craig Hornby and Derick Pearson for the updates.
The hamlet of Houlsyke in the Esk Valley, between Danby and Lealholm, pictured from a Phoenix postcard; the village was once a centre for the salting and curing of bacon for the Esk Valley. It was shipped from Whitby for the London market. A large trade was also done in wool fleeces; trading was conducted in ”The Fat Ox” public house, long since closed. Amy Nightingale remembers: “We used to stay at what is now called Ivy cottage, 30 years ago. We used to cross over the road and help the farmer bottle the fresh milk and gel deliver it. Called in today for the first time but there is no farm. Am I correct that a dam was in the centre?” Whilst Laurence Taylor advises: “We used to live in Daleside (a black and white bungalow next to the Methodist Church) 20 years ago. Our friends across the road ran a farm which closed but they still live in Houlsyke. We are going back for a week this year to visit them.”
Image courtesy of Tina Dowey, thanks to Amy Nightingale and Laurence Taylor for the updates.
This view of Arrowsmiths yard taken in 1971 shows Edgar Colbeck, he became proprietor in 1968 after working for John Arrowsmith (son of William) for several years. Image courtesy of Christopher Colbeck.
S.S. Santiago, in collision with and sank the steam trawler Cairness of Hartlepool. Santiago was damaged and she ran ashore at Redcar 8th November 1911. An A. F. Graham. Redcar postcard.
A miner can be seen drilllng a hole for the charges. He is using a hand ratchet drill, the improvised platform he is standing on looks perilously shaky. David Richardson tells us: ”Image from Eston Mine, a miner drilling a shot hole in the thick seam district (with an average height of 16ft) using a hand rotary drill (likely a Blackett Hutton). Taken around 1925.” Craig Hornby now confirms the date and the reason for the image with: ”Eston 1920 for ‘Iron & Steel Trades Review’”.
Image courtesy of George Pearson; thanks to David Richardson and Craig Hornby for the updates.
After a hole has been drilled a shotfirer is seen charging the hole with an explosive from the wooden case the second miner is holding. The miners are wearing safety helmets, with headlamp fed from the battery pack on their hips; David Richardson advises: “The scene was from North Skelton mine in the 1950s.”
Image courtesy of George Pearson and many thanks to David Richardson for the update on location.
A Dutch registered vessel of 499 tons Hendrika was on passage from Bayonne to Aberdeen with a cargo of maize. She stranded on Salt Scar rocks Redcar on 4th May 1973 and became a total loss. Information from ”Shipwrecks of North East Coast” by Ron Young. Fred Brunskill tells us: ”Full of grain and bound for Aberdeen she came ashore with very little warning. Although crew were able to get off, the Sir James Knott lifeboat( now at Kirkleatham Museum ) and the inshore inflatable lifeboat were both in attendance.”
Pete Dale has told the Archive: “I was heading to work in Redcar from Upleatham that evening when noticed this coaster heading along at a great rate of knots in bright sunlight but too close-in, for my liking. On getting to work I found a high point to find the Hendrika ashore on the Salt Scar. I remember someone trying to salvage the vessel after she rolled over, by placing two old (I assume) petrol tanks into the hold, but this failed. Some time later the propeller was found behind Welford’s Garage, located off Fisherman’s Square; between the garage and William Street.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday and thanks to Fred Brunskill and Pete Dale for the updates.
Two miners at the face in a Cleveland mine. The lack of safety helmets suggests an early date for the photograph. The sharpened points of the pit props were a safety feature. When the points began to spread the pressure was increasing and remedial action needed to be taken.
Or Red House Farm, 150 acres situated at the side of Whitby Road quite close to Staithes at the junction of Cowbar Lane. Described as having 5 bedrooms, 2 attics, bathroom, 2 sitting rooms, kitchen with range, scullery with sink, pantry, wash house with copper. Water from the three crosses well supply. Rent on Ladyday tenancy £137-13s-0p per annum. Estate makes an allowance off the rent of this farm for aerial standards (at one time used by Boulby Mine) which crossed the land. Not all the mod. cons of today, but all you would expect in 1946 when this farm was for sale in the dispersal sale catalogue for the Grinkle estate.
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