Working the Seams
A skilled miner and a filler worked together at each ‘place’ to extract the ironstone.
The miner bored a hole in the rock face using a ‘jumper’ (hand drill). He filled the hole with a charge of gunpowder. He then lit the ‘squib’ (fuse) and took cover.
After the blast, the filler loaded fallen stone into a wheeled tub. This was taken away by horses.
Pillars and passages
The traditional way of mining the ironstone seams was by ‘bord and pillar’.
Miners extracted the ironstone by blasting out a series of ‘bords’ (intersecting underground passages). They left pillars of ironstone to support the roof.
At the farthest point underground, the miners then started working backwards towards the entrance. They carefully removed the pillars, letting the roof collapse safely. This was called ‘goafing’.
The Story of Iron and Steel
3 Ironstone in Cleveland
1847
Samuel Okey identifies an ironstone seam here in Skinningrove and mining begins soon after. This is the first ironstone mine in Cleveland.
1850
More of the same ironstone seam is discovered in the Cleveland Hills. Cleveland becomes one of the world’s most significant ironstone- producing areas.
1865
Teesside produces over a million tons of iron, using local ironstone in over 100 blast furnaces. Teesside is a key producer of iron in this country and internationally.
1879
The new Gilchrist-Thomas process ensures ‘good for nothing’ Cleveland ironstone can be made into high-quality steel. Teesside becomes the steel-making capital of the world.