tarboat's photos with the keyword: ironstone

Robey winder at the Florence ironstone mine at Egremont in Cumbria. This site has inevitably been robbed and the maker's plate has now been stolen.

The Florence ironstone mine near Egremont continued in use until 2008. It was the last working deep iron ore mine left in Western Europe and produced ore, products for the cosmetics industry and high quality haematite for jewellery. Production ended when BNFL ended the contrract for the mine to supply water and the cost of pumping rendered the mine uneconomic. The red haematite has had a marked effect on everything it touched, including these buildings on the surface.

Disused crab winch at a quarry at the end of the Blakey Mines branch off the Rosedale West branch railway. The branch served the Farndale iron mines which operated between 1873 and 1897 under the Blakey Iron Company and later the Farndale Iron Company. The iron mines were served via a narrow gauge incline from the adits down in Farndale at the bottom of the hill and to the left in this view. Blakey Ridge behind the photographer is riddled with small coal pits.

Winding drum on the Robey winder at the Florence ironstone mine at Egremont in Cumbria.

Rosedale East ironstone mine opened in 1864 and the far bank of four calciners was erected immediately. Stone was mined through a series of drifts in the hillside above and these were ventilated by the chimney in the right background. Mining ended here in 1926 and then the calcining dust was removed from in front of the kilns. The derelict building in the foreground appears to have been a cabin associated with the railway serving the mines.

There are several areas of mining for ironstone still visible in the Emley area of West Yorkshire. Those featured in this panorama lie to the south of Woodhouse Lane and Bentley Grange Farm. The earliest workings are thought to be the monks from the Abbey of Byland in North Yorkshire who established a furnace adjacent to Bank Wood. By the mid 15th century this appears to have ceased and it was not until the late 16th century that the Wentworth family exploited the Tankersley ironstone bed in this area. These remains are most likely from this latter period. In the 1950s much of the surrounding area was opencast mined for coal and the ironstone remains lost. This surviving area is now a scheduled ancient monument. Other pits can be found in Bank Wood and in fields to the west of the wood.

At Bank Top, above Rosedale Abbey an inclined tramway from Hollins Mines transported iron ore up around 400ft to these large kilns just below the North Eastern Railway branch terminus. The ore was tipped into the kilns from above to be calcined to drive off water and carbonic acid gas. This process dramatically reduces the weight of the ironstone which in turn reduces transport costs and royalties. Initially using locally mined poor coal, later the empty wagons returning from the ironworks in County Durham brought coal for the calcination process. Much of the masonry of the kilns survives but all the shutters and ironwork have long gone. The calcination process produces a lot of dust which is rich in iron oxide; this was recovered from 1920 onwards.

The Kilton ironstone mine installed an electric winding engine c1918 to replace a beam type steam winder with overhead drum. This enginehouse was erected immediately behind the steam winder which was to the right in this shot. In order to ensure continuity of production the winding ropes were transferred over a weekend and initially had to run through the upper part of the older building. The shaft was 720ft deep and single deck cages holding two tubs were wound in 45 seconds. The mine closed in 1963. There aren't many ironstone mining spoil heaps left in Cleveland and the best remaining is probably that at Kilton.

Rosedale East ironstone mine opened in 1864 and this bank of four calciners was erected immediately. Stone was mined through a series of drifts in the hillside above and these were ventilated by the chimney. A further set of calciners was constructed shortly afterwards and the remains of these lie off to the left of this photo. Mining ended here in 1926 and then the calcining dust was removed from in front of the kilns.

The closed Florence ironstone mine sits in the sunshine awaiting its fate.

Robey winder at the Florence ironstone mine at Egremont in Cumbria.

Looking down into the shaft. Humble patent detaching hook above the cage at the Florence Ironstone Mine.

The Florence ironstone mine near Egremont continued in use until 2008. It was the last working deep iron ore mine left in Western Europe and produced ore, products for the cosmetics industry and high quality haematite for jewellery. Production ended when BNFL ended the contrract for the mine to supply water and the cost of pumping rendered the mine uneconomic.

The Florence ironstone mine near Egremont continued in use until 2008. It was the last working deep iron ore mine left in Western Europe and produced ore, products for the cosmetics industry and high quality haematite for jewellery. Production ended when BNFL ended the contrract for the mine to supply water and the cost of pumping rendered the mine uneconomic. The red haematite has had a marked effect on everything it touched, including these buildings on the surface.

The term 'bell pits' is often used when referring to early coal mining but there is little evidence that such workings ever existed in most cases. It appears that the best surviving examples of this mining technique are to be found in the ironstone industry. These spoil heaps at Tankersley Park supplied ironstone to the Elsecar Ironworks and date from c1850. The ironstone occurs as nodules in shale beds and this is why there is so much spoil around the shafts.

This is an old ironstone level as far as I can tell. The tunnel has only been rediscovered recently and may yet yield its secrets. Late 18th or early 19th century is the most likely date.

The Skelton Park ironstone mine was sunk by Bell Brothers in 1872 with two shafts of 378 ft (upcast) and 384 ft (downcast), both 14ft in diameter. Bell Brothers were taken over by Dorman Long and Co Ltd in 1923 and that company operated the mine until closure in 1938. It is reckoned that the mine produced in excess of 18.5 million tons of ironstone. To the left is the top of the upcast shaft and fan house with the roofless main winding enginehouse centre and power house on the right.

The Skelton Park mine was sunk by Bell Brothers in 1872 with two shafts of 378 ft (upcast) and 384 ft (downcast), both 14ft in diameter. Bell Brothers were taken over by Dorman Long and Co Ltd in 1923 and that company operated the mine until closure in 1938. It is reckoned that the mine produced in excess of 18.5 million tons of ironstone. This is the top of the upcast shaft and fan house although initially ventilation was by a furnace at the bottom of the shaft. In November 1882 a 12ft 1½ins diameter Schiele fan was installed in a concrete house with a steam engine to drive it. The shaft top brickwork was raised by 8ft to allow cross girders to be installed to carry a pulley wheel for winding in the shaft. The concrete structure on top of the building is the evasee for the fan.