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Home , Boosbeck, Carlin How, Charltons, Eston, Gisborough Priory, Guisborough

Redcar & Ironstone Heritage Trail

Car and Walk Trail

this is & Cleveland Redcar & Cleveland Ironstone Heritage Trail The History of Mining Ironstone Villages Ironstone mining began in Redcar & A number of small villages grew up in Cleveland in the 1840s, with the East Cleveland centred around the Redcar & Cleveland collection of ironstone from the ironstone mines and the differing Ironstone Heritage Trail foreshore at . A drift mine facilities available at these villages. celebrates the iron and steel was opened in the village in 1848. The Those that were established by ironstone industry on grew Quaker families did not permit public history of the . Linking rapidly following the discovery of the houses to be built. At , and Skinningrove, the Main Seam at Eston on 8th June 1850 the owners of Mine, the by John Vaughan and John Marley. In two areas that were both Pease family, built a reading room for September a railway was under the advancement of the mining integral to the start of the construction to take the stone to both industry, the trail follows public the -Redcar Railway and the community. In many villages small schools and chapels were footpaths passing industrial for distribution by boat. The first stone was transported along the established, for example at Margrove sites. One aspect of the trail is branch line from Eston before the end Park. At , named after the that it recognises the of 1850. Many other mines were to first mine owner, a miners’ institute, commitment of many of the open in the following twenty years as reading room and miners’ baths were the industry grew across the Borough. built. villages and community groups that are promoting the importance of heritage in their area.

Loftus Ironstone Mine Entrance

www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk this is Redcar & Cleveland Mine Owners He later became the first Mayor of Life as a Miner Family Life in 1853 and MP for the A range of different people owned town from 1868. John Vaughan was It was a dangerous job as an ironstone The miner’s wife would be working in mines; those who owned ironworks born in Worcestershire in 1799. From an miner, working underground, from the house first thing in the morning, and wanted their own source of iron early age he was working in the iron 1850 until the mines closed in 1964. partly to avoid being seen by the men ore, local landowners, and those industry, moving from south Wales to The job of a miner was dirty, physically on their way to work. people who today would be classed as Cumberland before settling in Tyneside demanding and dangerous, often “venture capitalists”. Companies such as the manager of the Walker Iron The miner’s superstition, that it was as Bolckow and Vaughan secured the Works. John Vaughan married the sister resulting in personal injury leading to a unlucky to see a woman before going large mineral royalty at Eston, whilst of Bolckow’s wife and the two families period of unpaid time off, long-term to work, meant that if he did so he smaller companies opened mines in moved to Teesside in 1839 to open an incapacity or death. Miners worked in would return home and not work in East Cleveland. The Pease Brothers ironworks. Following years of struggle pairs with one man winning the stone the mine that day. The household created new railways to access areas to secure a constant supply of and a second filling the tubs. Payment budgets, food, clothes and family life for themselves where mineral royalties ironstone, John Vaughan went was based upon the number of tubs were managed by the wife. This was a had not been secured. The Pease prospecting for stone on the Eston Hills. Brothers extended the Stockton and filled. A token was placed in each tub tough task to make ends meet on a Railway in order to open to ensure the right person was paid. very tight budget, with the wife being mines in new areas and obtained Working beneath ground miners a diplomat, seamstress, and cook as mineral royalties along the route at would take only a drink of cold tea well as looking after the children. Life Hutton near . and a sandwich to eat for a day’s work. as the child of a miner would be no less hard, attending a local school with Two men important in establishing the the strong likelihood of leaving school ironstone industry were not from this area; both met on Tyneside in the at 14 to gain work to bring money into 1830s. Henry Ferdinand Bolckow was the family home. born in Germany in 1806 and came to Newcastle, initially as a merchant.

Henry Pease Woman Worker

www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk this is Redcar & Cleveland Route of Car Tour Go through the village, at the bottom Ironstone Walking Route Eston – Gisborough of Loftus Bank is a brown sign to turn Eston Square A circular tour visiting heritage sites in left to Cleveland Ironstone Mining The trail commences at Eston Priory (12km) Redcar & Cleveland starting and Museum at Skinningrove. Facilities: Square, from here walkers will From The Square take the path to the finishing at Eston. This tour links a Shop, guided tours, drinks available. series of sites and museums across the pass a range of sites relating south east under the Parkway, uphill Borough. From Skinningrove: Return to the to the iron and steel heritage along New Bank Incline. This was main road, turn right (west) and head constructed in 1853 to transport From Eston Square: Head west along of Redcar & Cleveland on a along the A174 at Skelton. Turn right ironstone down from the open drift the B1380 to Normanby traffic lights. at the second roundabout to Saltburn. 27km (17 miles) walk to mines and quarries to the tipping Turn left at the lights and follow the Saltburn, is a Victorian town that Skinningrove. yards at Eston. At the top of the Guisborough Forest and Walkway Visitors Centre road over the A174, take the turning flourished after the railway arrived in ascent, New Bank Drift Mine is straight on the right (Brown tourist sign) to First head east, pausing at the 1861. ahead. At this level there was a small shale tip from Upsall Mine (1866- Flatts Lane Country Park. site of the former hospital, Facilities in the town: refreshments, 1945), now known locally as “Ghost turn south off the High Street at tramline that transported the stone toilets, cliff lift, pier, sculptures. Go California Houses Town”. It is reported that much of the California Road. Here, the first across the face of the hills from the west out of the town on Marske Road water and provisions to the community purpose-built ironstone miners’ various quarries and drifts down to to reach the A174. Turn right at the came from Eston and up the mine shaft cottages were constructed at Old Eston, via one of three inclines, Old, roundabout, go to Marske, (Winkies at Upsall. Row in 1852. Behind Old Row is The Trustee and New Bank. Continue west Castle Museum) then along the Square which, with Cross Street, (towards Normanby) before taking a From here, cross the beck and take the A1085 to Redcar. On the Promenade formed the original community of path up to the top of the Eston Hills. path on the right beside the field. in Redcar you will find the Zetland “California” at Eston. For further At the summit is , an Iron Continue for 1km, passing a farm track Museum information see the panels at Age hillfort constructed around before turning and heading south and the California produced by Eston 500BC. towards Guisborough. Before the A171 Facilities include: trails, toilets, keep fit Vertical Pier. Residents Association. road, near the Cross Keys public house, area. From the Country Park, continue Facilities in the Follow the path along the summit the footpath goes over an south to the A171, turn left. Follow the town include: westwards (towards Normanby). Down embankment. This is the trackbed of California Houses road for 3km, at the roundabout turn toilets, the hill the remains of quarries from the the Cleveland Railway, constructed to right for Guisborough Forest and refreshments and mines are visible. Take the path to the bring the stone from the south side of Walkway visitor centre (Brown tourist Tourist Information left and head south until reaching a the Eston Hills to Teesside via sign). Centre. Leave the beck after 500m. In front of you is a Normanby. Zetland Lifeboat town on the Facilities include: Visitor Centre, Trails, Museum Shop, Cafe. Return to the A171, A1042 to follow the road towards Guisborough (Priory ruins, Tourist Information Museum. A museum with displays Centre, town museum) take the A173 about Ironstone Mining, Social history to Skelton. At the traffic lights go left, and Anglo-Saxon treasure from Loftus, downhill to the A174, turn right at as well as a changing programme of roundabout and follow the road to exhibitions. Facilities: Cafe, shop, . toilets, children's play area. From Kirkleatham go along the A174 past , at take the B1380 to return to Eston Square.

www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk this is Redcar & Cleveland T M CP Steel Works

Walking Route Sea Redcar A1085

M CP CP T A174 Marske M CP Driving Route Visitors Centre A1042 Saltburn T Fan V House New Marske CP Errington Skinningrove A174 Wood A174 M T Built Up Area Toilets A174 T Skelton

Lazenby Eston Carlin How Bank Loftus Normanby Kilton Eston Nab North Shale Tip Open Area/ Skelton Farmland CP Car Parking Eston A173 Moor

CP V T M T Moorland M Museum Flatts CP A171 Lane T T V CP Guisborough Guisborough Woods Community Woodland Heritage Trails Hutton Lowcross Woods

www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk this is Redcar & Cleveland Carefully cross the A171, head south At Slapewath take the path to the left From the top of the hill, Kilton Mine, across two fields, at the railway of the Fox and Hounds public house symbolised by its shale tip, is visible in (formerly Middlesbrough-Guisborough and follow a path that was formerly a the distance. This mine opened in Railway) head east to Pinchinthorpe. At railway line. Here there are views of 1871 and was the penultimate mine to this point there are fine views to the Birk Brow, as well as close in 1963. Continue across the south, with visible as South Skelton Mine (1872-1954). fields, cross Lane and a prominent landmark. Ironstone was Continue along the valley to head towards Carlin How. At this excavated from beneath the hill Boosbeck. Here the community point, looking north to the coast, a between 1880 and 1926. From expanded considerably with the Guibal Fanhouse can be seen on the Pinchinthorpe the railway went to Boosbeck opening up of the mine (1872-1889), cliffs (the building looks like a chapel). Hutton, where J W Pease operated a where houses were built for miners by This was built to introduce a fresh air mine and built houses for miners. Christopher Jackson and others. Follow the holloway (an ancient supply to Huntcliffe Mine (1872-1906). Continue into Guisborough to sunken track created by hundreds of At Carlin How there was a mine (1873- Gisborough Priory following the At Boosbeck, turn left (north) uphill to years of erosion) which leads to 1946 – no visible remains). waymarked route from the visitor Priestcrofts (before Skelton Green), . Here the last mine in centre to the town. turn right (east) going through the the Cleveland Ironstone field closed in gate and across fields to 1964. Go through the village, after Cross the road at the traffic lights Guisborough- Road, crossing the road at the bridge. the second bridge take the footpath and go down the footpath beside the on the right to Lumpsey Mine (1881- chapel. This leads to Loftus Ironstone Skinningrove (15km) 1954). These remains are now much Mine (1865-1958), now the Cleveland vandalised but the winder survives. Ironstone Mining Museum. At the From Gisborough Priory follow the Cross the railway lines (with care) and bottom of the steps beside the road is signposts for Cleveland Street, continue uphill. a brick ventilation shaft from the mine. between the Priory and Prior Pursglove College, head eastwards crossing the A171 and fields to Waterfall Farm. Follow the signs for Cleveland Street as you go alongside the Waterfall Viaduct. This brought the railway into the Margrove Valley. Gisborough Priory Here there were seven ironstone mines, the product of which went across this structure and back to Teesside. The mines opened at Huntcliffe Shaft Aysdale Gate, Spa and Spawood between 1863 and 1865, and then at Slapewath, Stanghow (Margrove Park), South Skelton and Boosbeck in 1872. Cross the A171 near Rock Hole Quarry. Looking back from here, the ventilation chimney of Spawood Mine (1865-1931) can be seen.

www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk this is Redcar & Cleveland This trail links the two sites, Eston and Skinningrove that founded the ironstone industry in Redcar & Cleveland.

Other history groups celebrate the Eston Square diverse heritage of the Borough in Guisborough Town Museum, Winkies Castle in Marske, Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum in Skinningrove, Gisborough Priory Project, Zetland Lifeboat Museum in Redcar and a fledgling history group in Skelton.

Skinningrove Beach

Other trails, established by community and history groups (marked with an asterisk*) celebrate the ironstone heritage of the area. These are Eston Residents Association*, Normanby History Group, Pinchinthorpe Visitor Centre*, Lingdale Liftoff*, Friends of Errington Woods*, Skinningrove History Group* and “Loftus Legacy (planning a trail*)”. For further information www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk www.facebook.com/redcarandclevelandtourism www.twitter.com/visit_redcar Redcar Tourist Information Centre (01642) 471921 Guisborough Tourist Information Centre (01287) 633801

All Photography in this publication is copyright and cannot be reproduced without permission. We gratefully acknowledge the use of photography supplied by Colin Falcon, Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, Profile Gallery and Mike Sidgwick

www.visitredcarandcleveland.co.uk