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 2023
TBC 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.
19 August 2023
Teesside Archives / Dorman Museum
Saturday TBC
Meet at the entrance to Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 6LA. (NZ 491 190).
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 2023
11 September 2023
Subject:- Boulby Mine – Looking back at the first 50 years.
Monday 7.30 pm
Venue:- St. Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough.
Speaker:- Neil Rowley
Following his 2021 talk on the Selby Coalfield, Neil returns to give a personal account of his time working at the Boulby Mine using photographs and plans collected during his career.
A record of our previous events can be viewed here