Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Port-Mulgrave

Sitting in the old port area, at the end of the ruined pier are the remains of a possible portable crane or winch. The bottom left photo is a coil of metallic cable no doubt used for the winch now on its last legs of existence –a solid rusted mass. The top right shows what I imagine to be the top of another winch nearer to the old tunnel that brought the workers and ore here from nearby dwellings and quarries. The harbour was constructed by Sir Charles Palmer in 1856-57 at a cost of £45,000. Initially the harbour exported ironstone to Jarrow on Tyneside to supply Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited Later ironstone was sent to blast furnaces by the River Tees When the mine at Rosedale Wyke began to run out Sir Charles Palmer established Grinkle ironstone mine 3 miles (4.8 km) to the east near the hamlet of Dalehouse and in 1875 a narrow-gauge railway line was built to the mine. The ironstone wagons from Grinkle Mine were taken over bridges then through a tunnel under Ridge Lane down a mile long inclined tunnel on a ropeway powered by a steam engine situated by the east pier then emerging in the cliff side 30 ft above sea level. The railway wagons were then led onto a gantry with bunkers on the east harbour wall ready for loading the ironstone directly into ships in the harbour. See the tunnel photo for the full history. Enjoy full screen.

A view down in Port Mulgrave proper.

One of the fishing huts down in this cove. Someone’s pride and joy in the old flotsam fishing hut. See adjacent photos for full view of the other hut and sea-view scene. (PiP's) Keep safe. Herb

There are a few huts down here but this for me the best photographically. A nice view from down here too. See PIPs. Enjoy full screen.

A tour of this old spot now. We have managed to scramble down here using steep steps, ladders and ropes you can just see on the left here. There are a number of habitable dwellings down here, created by fishermen no doubt. They can all be described perhaps as what we might call ‘character houses’. Dotted around are all kinds of ancient paraphernalia. We can just see the abandoned tramway tunnel entrance slightly to the left and above that rusty A-frame, but it is now sealed up of course.. See PiP for more distant view and adjacent last photo for top view and more detailed historic description. Enjoy full screen.

The harbour was constructed by Sir Charles Palmer in 1856-57 at a cost of £45,000. Initially the harbour exported ironstone to Jarrow on Tyneside to supply Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited. Later ironstone was sent to blast furnaces on the River Tees When the mine at Rosedale Wyke began to run out Sir Charles Palmer established Grinkle ironstone mine 3 miles (4.8 km) to the east near the hamlet of Dalehouse and in 1875 a narrow-gauge railway line was built to the mine. The ironstone wagons from Grinkle Mine were taken over bridges then through a tunnel under Ridge Lane down a mile long inclined tunnel on a ropeway powered by a steam engine situated by the east pier then emerging in the cliff side 30 ft above sea level. The railway wagons were then led onto a gantry with bunkers on the east harbour wall ready for loading the ironstone directly into ships in the harbour. In 1911 the pier gantry and boiler house were damaged by a serious fire however, the damage was repaired. In 1916 Grinkle Mine was connected to the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway thus avoiding the wartime hazards of shipping and the tramway tunnel abandoned. Port Mulgrave was a busy port for 40 years but the harbour was redundant by 1920 due to the railway link and cheaper foreign sources of ironstone becoming available. After falling into disuse the harbour was left to decay. In 1934 Grinkle Mine was abandoned,and the harbour machinery sold off as scrap and the gantry accidentally destroyed by a fire.The west harbour breakwater wall was deliberately destroyed by the Royal Engineers to prevent its use as part of any German invasion during World War II. Enjoy full screen.

A rather fine view down the cliffs to this old port taken form the coastal path. The old port can only be explored now by boat or torturous cliff steps. The old part, a derelict former ironstone exporting port lies on the North Yorkshire coast midway between Staithes and Runswick Bay. The modern hamlet is situated just to the left of that red roofed house on top of the cliffs. Enjoy full screen.