Lecture Programme Archive

Previous CIAS Events

CIAS Summer Events 2023

17 May 2023
Parkol Marine Engineering’s fabrication hall, Middlesbrough

Wednesday 10.00 am
Meet at Port of Middlesbrough, West Gate A, Riverside Park Road, Middlesbrough, TS2 1JR. (Grid Ref NZ 490 215).

A rearrangement of the delayed June 2020 visit to Parkol Marine Engineering’s, fabrication hall which has four boat-building berths undercover accommodates new builds up to 45 metres long. If possible, bring safety gear (Hard hats, high visibility jackets and strong footwear). Parkol would like to be notified of the numbers attending before the day of the visit so please register your interest with Elizabeth Marsh.

17 June 2023
Slapewath Shaft Ironstone Mine

Saturday 1:30 pm
Meet at Margrove Park Old Shale Tips Parking (NZ 652 156)
Leader :- Simon Chapman

A visit to the Slapewath Shaft ironstone mine site to view what has recently been uncovered by Simon and the team from Cleveland Mining Heritage Society. Sunk by Sir Bernard Samuelson in the 1880s the site now lies on private property and is approximately a one-mile walk from the parking location along farm tracks.

15 July 2023
UK Mining Ventures – Frosterley

Leader :- Chris Twigg

UK Mining Ventures operate several small mines near Frosterley in Weardale, dedicated to commercial Fluorite specimen mining. They have an operational battery loco and Eimco 12B compressed-air rocker shovel. Specifics of the visit will be finalised in 2023 and will likely require PPE such as safety boots and helmets with headlamps, please contact the meeting leader directly to register an interest and be notified of further details.

August 2023 – Cancelled
Teesside Archives / Dorman Museum

A visit to allow members to become familiar with accessing the resources of the Teesside Archives and the Dorman Museum, now housed under the same roof, for research or personal interest purposes. After a general introduction to the whole group, there will be the opportunity for small sub-groups to see material not normally on display. To confirm the visit time and to enable the access to collections to be tailored to the interests of the attendees please let Elizabeth Marsh know what topics you would like to see covered.

CIAS Autumn/Winter Lecture Programme 2022

12 Sep 2022
Subject:- The Anatomy of Yorkshires Lead Smelting Mills.

Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Richard Lamb

As well as looking at Yorkshires Lead Smelting Mills it will include new information on the history of Grinton Mill unearthed after the flood damage in August 2019.

17 Oct 2022
Subject:- Demolition of the Redcar Steelworks.

Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Chris Twigg

Historical images of the demolition of local industrial sites are few and far between, however, the use of drones and social media has generated a vast amount of imagery of the recent demolitions across the Teesworks site. Additional information gathered from planning applications and satellite
imagery allows us to see what happened entirely behind closed doors in previous generations.

26 Nov 2022 – ELGEE MEMORIAL LECTURE
Subject:- Alum : A Forgotten Industry.

Saturday 10.30 am
Venue:- Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough
Speaker:-
Peter Appleton

Once described as “a science-based industry at a time when there was no science on which to base it”, the alum shale industry of north-east Yorkshire existed for about 270 years and spanned the reigns of twelve monarchs, from James I to Victoria. In his lecture, Peter Appleton gives an introduction to the product, its uses, the processes for making it, and the supply and distribution
channels that supported it.

Note: This lecture will only be available in person and will not be available via Zoom.

05 Dec 2022
Subject:- Our Salty Heritage.

Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Dr FW (Rick) Smith

Rick, a semi-retired independent geologist, will talk about how the accidental discovery of Zechstein age evaporites below Middlesbrough in 1859 led to large scale mining of salt and anhydrite, which was the foundation of Teesside’s inorganic chemical industry. The formation, extent and exploitation of these remarkable geological deposits will be described by Rick who worked for ICI in the 1970s. The westward limits of anhydrite and gypsum have been explored at Great Stainton, and are proved by unstable ground conditions around Darlington, Bedale and Ripon. Southeastwards the evaporite formations thicken and were thoroughly explored for potash from 1939 into the 1960s, culminating in shaft-sinking at Boulby, Britain’s deepest mine and only potash producer.

23 Jan 2023
Subject:- The Discovery and Exploration of Polyhalite in Yorkshire

Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Dr FW (Rick) Smith

Rick will follow on from last month and talk about the discovery of polyhalite in 1939, and the events and characters involved in its definition over the next 70 years. Then the origins in 2010 and the details of the York Potash exploration project will be discussed, along with the parallel decision by Cleveland Potash to commence mining polyhalite in 2016 (the first, and currently only, such mine in the world). Finishing with the planning and development of Sirius Minerals’, now Anglo American’s, world class 20 million tpa Woodsmith Mine at Whitby.

13 Feb 2023
Subject:- Seathwaite Wad Mine

Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Mark Hatton

Ever wonder where the phrase “black market” came from? The graphite (or “Wad” or “Plumbago” or “Black Lead”) extracted from the mine at Seathwaite in Borrowdale near Keswick was the purest and finest quality in the World. The graphite was mined from the 15th to the 19th centuries and found many uses, some of which helped make the British Navy the most powerful in the World and saw the finest pencils made in Keswick. The price of this wonder material soared in the 18th and 19th centuries such that it became the most valuable material ever to be mined in Cumbria. Some locals were tempted to steal and illicitly trade the dark coloured graphite, which is reputed to be the origin of this now common expression.

20 March 2023
Subject:- The Summit Tunnel Fire

Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Alan Halfpenny

In the early hours of 20th December 1984 a freight train hauling 13 tank wagons of petroleum left Haverton Hill, Teesside bound for Glazebrook, Merseyside. A derailment occurred within the Summit Tunnel, leading to a fire that was declared a major incident and not considered to be under control until the evening of 24th December. Mr Halfpenny represented ICI at the incident and subsequent inquiry. The lecture will cover the incident and its repercussions.

3 April 2023
Subject:- AGM and Lecture

Monday 7.15 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Tocketts Mill by Peter Morgan

Tocketts is the only mill in the Cleveland area restored and in working condition. Its rescue was the result of the timely intervention and subsequent (and continuing) efforts of John Harrison.
Every mill is unique and evolving, not only as a result of advances in milling technologies but also as a response to local conditions & requirements. Tocketts mill is certainly no exception, responding to the many changes across the centuries in the Guisborough area.

CIAS Summer Events 2022

28 May 2022
Grosmont Geology and Industrial Archaeology
Saturday 1pm-4pm

Leader : Steve Livera
Meet at St Matthews Church (NZ 8285 0515)

The coming of the railway to Grosmont in 1836 led to the identification and development of several industries in the area, the most important of which was ironstone extraction and processing. A lot has been documented over the years in the area and this trip builds on that work. We will examine the upper seam (The Pecten Seam) in detail and in its geological setting along the Murk Esk,
highlighting the unusual conditions which led to its deposition during the Jurassic and its relationship to the lower Avicula Seam, seen in nearby abandoned mines. The Murk Esk also shows us how the mining took place in the 1830s, well before the Main Seam developments near Guisborough and
Eston in the 1850s. We will then take a short walk up Lease Rigg and overview the industrial setting, using Lidar images and abandonment plans to discuss the history of development in the area. Then we will investigate some of the sites in detail to get a feeling of what remains of what was a prolonged period of mining and processing between 1836 and 1891. The walking distance is ca. 5 km
on existing paths which can be rough and pebbly. We will not walk under any outcrops.


25 June 2022
A walk around Kirkleatham to view the remains of the WW2 defences
Saturday 2pm
Leader : Stuart McMillan
Meet at Kirkleatham Church TS10 5NN (NZ 594 218).

Following Stuart’s talk to us in March 2020, he will lead a walk around Kirkleatham to point out the WW2, Area 51 defended strongpoint centred on Kirkleatham Hall which from 1940 – 1943 served as a battalion HQ for units engaged in coastal defence. At one time during this period, it was the HQ of
the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. The Hall was provided with intensive all-round defences. These comprised anti-tank ditch perimeter trenches, machine-gun positions, a 6pdr. emplacement, mortars, anti-tank blocks and pill-boxes. In the First World War, the site provided a mooring-out station for Admiralty U-boat hunting airships stationed at Howden.


23 July 2022
Skelton Shaft Discoveries
Saturday 1.30 pm
Leader : Simon Chapman
Meet at Park Pit site (NZ 644 181) just south off A173 along a farm track.

Another visit to the Skelton Shaft Mine site to view what has been uncovered by Simon and his team of workers since we last visited the remains which include the Guibal Fan House. The mine is on private land and permission from Skelton and Gilling Estate is subject to the usual conditions, i.e. Visitors are there at their own risk and no liability is accepted by the Estate. Care to be taken at all
times, no dogs are allowed; also, no access into the buildings is permitted because of their crumbling state.

20 Aug 2022
Belmont Ironstone Mine and Stables
Saturday 1.30 pm.
Leader : Chris Twigg
Meet at end of Silverton Road, Guisborough (NZ 615 147)

A short walk around the surface remains of Bolckow and Vaughan’s Belmont ironstone mine in Guisborough, visiting the powder magazine, picking belt and drift entrance. The visit will also include access to the extensive mine stables, still serving their original purpose in the present day. The visit complements the December 2021 lecture on Ironstone Mining around Guisborough.

CIAS Autumn/Winter Lecture Programme 2021

13 September 2021 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : Selby Coalfield
Mon 7.30 pm
Speaker :- Neil Rowley

Neil gives a personal account of the development and life of the Selby coalfield using photographs and plans collected during his career in mining. He goes on to illustrate some of the influences that Selby may have had in later years both on Boulby Mine and even perhaps to a small extent on mines in the North of Spain.

18 October 2021 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : The Company of Mines Royal – A short history
Mon 7.30 pm
Speaker :- Mark Hatton

How the formation of the Company of Mines Royal at Keswick in 1568 revolutionised the Mining and Smelting Industry in Britain and paved the way for the Industrialisation of Teesside. A tale of Immigration, Innovation,
Jealousy & Murder.

8 November 2021 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : The Silent Warriors of Teesport
Mon 7.30 pm
Speaker :- Phil Philo

A return visit by Phil this time to talk about the History of the 10th Submarine Flotilla based on the River Tees during World War One.

6 December 2021 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : Ironstone Mining around Guisborough
Mon 7.30 pm
Speaker :- Chris Twigg

Guisborough bore witness to the majority of the ironstone mining era in Cleveland, starting in the very early days with Pease’s Hutton Lowcross mines, through mechanisation, modernisation and merger to the huge Spa Wood and Belmont mines of Dorman Long and Company in the inter-war period.

17 Jan 2022 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : From Railway Engines to Toilet Cubicles
Mon 7.30 pm
Speaker :- Alan Betteney

The history of a factory on Norton Road, Stockton, famous for railway and marine engines and toilet cubicles.

21 Feb 2022 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : Cleveland’s Innovative Engineers
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue : St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough

Speaker :- Sue Parker

Sue Parker is Technical Events Officer of the Cleveland Institute of Engineers (CIE) and a Director of the Cleveland Scientific Institute. Drawing from the CIE’s 19th-century archives Mrs Parker reveals the innovative engineering solutions of the area’s leading engineers. Many of them were ahead of their time. Did you know that attempts were made to start a Channel Tunnel in 1883, or that the transmitter in telephone microphones in the 1980s was invented by a vicar in 1880?

21 March 2022 (now available in Members Area)
Subject : John Dixon : The man who could have built the Forth bridge
Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.

Also Zoom: Meeting ID: 826 2282 2521 Passcode: 18918
Speaker:- Ian Pearce

John Dixon was one of the generations of British contractors who built railways, bridges and other civil engineering works around the world. Today, most are generally forgotten, a fate entirely undeserved by the man who erected Cleopatra’s Needle on the Thames Embankment and who built the first railway in China. Had his tender for the construction of the Forth Railway Bridge been
accepted, and it was the lowest tender received, history would have treated him differently. Ian will have copies of his book available at a heavily discounted price.

25 April 2022
Subject:- AGM and Members’ Evening
Monday 7.15 pm Please note earlier start time
Venue: – St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.

Also Zoom: Meeting ID: 845 6459 7609 Passcode: 103850

Members’ contributions will be welcomed; please advise the Secretary in advance.

CIAS Summer Events 2020

16 May 2020
Skelton Shaft Mine site.
Saturday 1.30 pm
Venue :- Meet at Park Pit site (NZ644181) just south off A173 along farm track.
Leader :- Simon Chapman

A further visit to the Skelton Shaft Mine site to view what has been uncovered by Simon and his team of workers since we last visited. The mine is on private land and permission from Skelton and Gilling Estate is subject to the usual conditions, i.e. Visitors are there at their own risk and no liability is accepted by the Estate. Care to be taken at all times, no dogs are allowed; also no access into the buildings is permitted because of their crumbling state.

17 June 2020
Visit to Parkol Marine Engineering’s fabrication hall, Middlesbrough
Wednesday 10.00 am
Venue :- Meet at the entrance to Dawson Wharf Riverside Park Road, Middlesbrough, TS2 1JR. (Grid Ref NZ 490 215).

At the conclusion of her lecture in October Sally Atkinson invited CIAS members to visit Parkol Marine Engineering’s, fabrication hall which has four boat-building berths under cover and can accommodate new builds up to 60 metres long. All those attending please if possible bring safety gear (Hard hats, high visibility jackets and strong footwear).

18 July 2020
A walk around Kirkleatham to view the remains of the WW2 defences
Saturday 2.00 pm
Venue :- Meet at Kirkleatham Church TS10 5NN (NZ 594218).
Leader :- Stuart McMillan

Following Stuart’s talk to us in March, he will lead a walk around Kirkleatham to point out the WW2, Area 51 defended strongpoint centred on Kirkleatham Hall which from 1940 – 1943 served as a battalion HQ for units engaged on coastal defence. At one time during this period, it was the HQ of the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. The Hall was provided with intensive all-round defences. These comprised anti-tank ditch perimeter trenches, machine-gun positions, a 6pdr. emplacement, mortars, anti-tank blocks and pill-boxes. In the First World War the site provided a mooring-out station for Admiralty U-boat hunting airships stationed at Howden.

12 August 2020
River Tees boat trip (Duration approx. 2 hrs)
Wednesday 10:00 am
Venue :- Teesport (exact location to be advised nearer the time).

Following the talk in September 2019 we have been invited for a boat trip on the River Tees. The trip is limited to 11 (eleven) members but it is possible that further trips can be organised later in the day if required. Booking is essential on a first come first served basis by contacting the Secretary either by email at alanbetteney@gmail.com or by telephone on 01642 582479 (at a reasonable time please).
Once the list is full a reserve list will be compiled and a decision made on whether a second trip is required. It is ESSENTIAL that if members have booked and cannot attend for any reason they inform the Secretary ASAP so that the place can be re-allocated. Full details of the starting point and time will be communicated by email or telephone a few weeks before the trip.


CIAS Lecture Programme Spring 2019


7 January
Subject : In situ underground remains in UK mines
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker :- Chris Twigg

A look at in situ underground remains in UK mines, such as the Sir Francis Engine, Brewery Shaft Machinery, Rampgill Horse Gin, Locos in Milwr Tunnel, underground winding engines at Burtree Pasture and the underground engine at Ystrad Einon.


4 February
Subject : Sir Nigel Gresley, the Engineer and his Achievements
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker :- Chris Nettleton

A power-point presentation, with moving film, describing Nigel Gresley’s family, his time with the LNWR at Crewe, the LYR, Horwich and GNR and LNER, culminating in Mallard’s record run and his plans for main line electrification.


4 March
Subject: J W Armstrong’s photographs: an alternative alphabet
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker :- Richard Barber

J.W Armstrong was one of the early railway photographers who lived and worked in the North East. The talk will take an alternative look at what is held in the Armstrongs Trust’s photographic collection. Although it is mainly Transport based that does not just mean railways: it also includes buses, trams, ships, traction engines and planes, along with a selection of overseas photos. In the presentation there are likely to be a few surprises as the speaker progresses from A to Z.


29 April
Subject: AGM and Members’ Evening
Mon 7.15 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.

Please note earlier start time
Members’ contributions will be welcomed; please advise the Secretary in advance.


All Lectures are held at St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Lectures start at 7.30 pm unless otherwise noted.
The lectures are free and visitors welcome.


CIAS Lecture Programme Autumn 2019

9 September
Subject: The Development of the Port of the Tees.
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Andrew Ridley

After briefly describing the early ports on the R Tees, a more detailed explanation will be given of the development of Teesport and the operations carried out there today. Teesport handles over 5,000 vessels each year involving around 40 million tonnes of cargo.

7 October
Subject: Parkol Marine Engineering Ltd.
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Sally Atkinson – Project Manager & Director.

Parkol Marine is a family run business set up in Whitby in 1971 who are continuing the areas boatbuilding heritage. The firm has continued to expand and last year it opened a new facility at Dawsons Wharf on the Tees at Middlesbrough

11 November
Subject: The Alum Folk.
Mon 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Peter Appleton.

History is made, not by monarchs, politicians, generals and admirals, but by the ordinary men and women who carry out their instructions. The same could be said of alum. In this talk, Peter Appleton will draw upon several years of research, to present a broad cross-section of individuals, from all strata of society, who were involved in making alum in north-east Yorkshire.

9 December 2019
Subject: Sir Thomas Bouch, Victorian Civil Engineer: Hero? Villain? Victim? or just bad PR?
Monday 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Bill Jagger.

Thomas Bouch is generally remembered for the failure of the Tay Railway Bridge, an event which rocked the Victorian establishment. But the construction of what was then the longest bridge in the world was not entrusted to an insignificant engineer. The talk aims to correct an imbalance of repute by explaining some of his background and history that led up to his winning the Tay Bridge contract. Whilst the speaker does recognise that he was not without fault in connection with that tragic incident, he considers that Bouch was not as blameworthy as the Court of Enquiry conclusion stated.

13 January 2020
Subject: Jet Mines in the North Yorkshire Moors.
Monday 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Chris Twigg.

In his illustrated talk Chris will describe the exploration and mapping of the extensive inland jet mines in the hillsides around Guisborough, Rosedale, Farndale and Bilsdale.

10 February 2020
Subject: “Peace, Hoo-Bally Ray”: Low Flying along the Tees from Redcar & Marske Airfields 1909-19.
Monday 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Phil Philo

The talk covers the contribution of our local airfields to the WWI conflict. It includes the background to flying in East Cleveland (1909-14); the military threat to the North East and the establishment of RNAS Redcar (1914-16); the establishment of RFC Marske, the creation of the RAF and the end of the war (1916-19). It outlines the places, those magnificent men and women and their flying machines; and what to see today.

09 March 2020
Subject: Cleveland during the Second World War.
Monday 7.30 pm
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Stuart McMillan.

Stuart is the co-author of the Defence of Britain Project publications, and his talk will cover the topic of Cleveland during WW2 with descriptions of the remaining structures, using his own excellent paintings to illustrate his talk.

27 April 2020
Subject: AGM and Members’ Evening
Monday 7.15 pm Please note earlier start time
Venue :- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.

Members’ contributions will be welcomed; please advise the Secretary in advance.

CIAS Summer Events 2019


18 May
Skelton Shaft Mine site.
Saturday 1.30 pm
Venue :- Meet at Park Pit site (NZ644181) just south off A173 along farm track.
Leader :- Simon Chapman

Another visit to the Skelton Shaft Mine site to view what has been uncovered by Simon and his team of workers since we last visited the remains which include the Guibal Fan House. The mine is on private land and permission from Skelton and Gilling Estate is subject to the usual conditions, i.e. Visitors are there at their own risk and no liability is accepted by the Estate. Care to be taken at all times, no dogs are allowed; also no access into the buildings is permitted because of their crumbling state.


22 June
Land of Iron Project excavation site at Warren Moor Mine
Saturday 2.00 pm
Venue :- Meet at Warren Farm YO21 2SB Grid Ref NZ623091

A visit to see the ironstone mine remains at Warren Moor, near Kildale Excavation and conservation work has been carried under volunteers under the Land of Iron Project. The original investigation of the site was carried by John Owen in 1981 who reported his findings in CIA No. 13.

13 July
Collection of vintage Cranes/Excavators
Saturday 1.30 pm
Venue :- Meet at Manor Farm, Seamer TS9 5NP Grid Ref NZ500100

Cancelled

A visit to see Geoff Nichols collection of over 22 crawler mounted rope operated crane/excavators in working order which he has amassed over the past two decades. They include one of the largest the 54RB (Ruston Bucyrus) which he rescued from being sent to the scrap yard. These machines represent the culmination of over 150 years of development before being superseded by hydraulic operated machines.


2 August
SUEZ Recycling and Recovery plant
Friday 10.00 am
Venue :- Meet at the entrance to the SEUZ Recycling and Recovery plant on Haverton Hill Road, Billingham TS23 1PY Grid Ref NZ481225 (Opposite site of former Furness Shipyard on A1046)

Arrive on site at 10am and leave around 12am following a presentation and site tour. All attending must wear trousers, long sleeve tops and flat footwear.