Skelton Shaft was the first shaft mine in Cleveland.
Please note that Skelton Shaft is entirely on private property, please do not enter without prior permission.
Lease Holders
1858 – 1923 : Bell Brothers 1923 – 1958 : Dorman Long and Company
- 1861 – 114ft shaft sunk, Cleveland Railway opens, production starts.
- 1863 to 1864 – Stone used to build Rushpool Hall (home of John Bell)
- 1864 – Drift from ‘Spa’ allow stone to be taken out direct to Cleveland Railway
- 1864 – Surface drift added near shaft for easier miners access.
- 1870 – Guibal fanhouse constructed
- 1874 – Part of Royalty including Spa drift surrendered to Gjers, Mills and Company.
- 1877 to 1879 – Closed due to slump in trade
- 1903 – Tramway to short-lived ‘Ping-Pong’ district built, owned by Chalenor
- 1918 to 1923 – Two foot seem worked below original main seam.
- 1923 – Mine abandoned by Bell Brothers
- 1930s – Shaft pillar worked by Dorman Long
- 1938 – Production ends