Burtersett Sandstone Mine(Correction)

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Spires
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

When I contacted the farmer, to ask for permission to visit Burtersetts Sandstone Mine, I was corrected by the farmer, who called it Burtersetts Slate Mine.
I quote from AN description 'A interesting flag and roofing slate mine'.
Cheers,
Paul(aka Spires).

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RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Hello. The rock is sandstone which was used for (presumably not very elegant) roofing slates and flags.

It wasn't actually slate itself.

The database classification is based on the rock type, not the finished product.

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Something like the Collyweston stone roof's around these parts.

Quite attractive really and highly valued by planning conservation officers ;D

http://www.artofslating.co.uk/

exspelio
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

And the 'grey slate' (gritstone) round these parts.
A neighbour had to buy a load from South Africa to match. (Grade 2 listed, National park, etc.)

Always remember, nature is in charge, get it wrong and it is you who suffers!.

pwhole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

I believe several of the old upland quarries on the west side of Sheffield also produced roofing 'slates' - probably from the Redmire Flags beds.

Spires
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Thanks for the replies guys, appreciated. As database classification is based on the rock type, name change not required.
Cheers,
Paul(aka Spires)

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

I quite like a flag roof, but it must weigh loads more than a Welsh slate job though.

Jim MacPherson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Just have a look at the hundreds of field barns in Derbyshire and all the Dales (Yorshire, Durham and Northumberland) and parts of the Lakes and most of the farms and housing to see how much sandstone flag (slate) was used. The collapsing sites (of which there are many) show the roof construction quite well and indicate quite how heavy sandstone was.

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/living-and-working/historic-buildings/traditional-farm-buildings/traditionalfarmbuildingsurvey-yorkshire-dales.pdf

The attachment gives some examples of roof timbering and has loads of scenic pics as well, just the thing for a cold Saturday morning.

I suppose the only correction is to leave out the last "s" from location name in the thread:)

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

"Jim MacPherson" wrote:

I suppose the only correction is to leave out the last "s" from location name in the thread:)

Fixed.

Hopefully. 🙂

Jim MacPherson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#10

What a guy!

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#11

applauding Jim's concise assessment of the distribution of "Teesdale Slate" roofs, they are incredibly heavy.

It takes at least two uninsured Ford Transit pickups to shift even a small roof in the dead of night. :guns:

MARK

festina lente[i]

Jim MacPherson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#12

Slightly off-topic, I've been shifting 15 sq. yards or so of re-covered sandstone mill flooring slabs to various houses as we've moved over the last 35 years. They are brilliant for patios but weigh tons (they were made in the days of "proper" weights) and cost me all of £30 (my supplier now tells me).

davetidza
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#13

They were caught in the act of nicking the counthouse/office roof at Watergrove Mine a few years ago. They didn't just have a transit van or two - they had a flat-bed artic!!

Hammy
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#14

I think that the farmer is correct and that Burtersett is indeed a slate mine, albeit sandstone slate.

The rock up there has a remarkably uniform and well developed cleavage plane. I'm not sure whether the cleavage plane at Burtersett corresponds to the bedding plane, and the piece I brought home and rived myself has disappeared so I can't check it without revisiting the site.

It is possible to rive very thin sandstone slates at Burtersett, as can be seen in the large amount of discarded material at the mine site. It is most unlike the usual thick flag roofing 'slates' normally associated with roofs in the Dales.

Jim MacPherson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#15

It seems quite a commonplace in the later Victorian and Edwardian higher-end housing market to demand and pay for better quality products that stood out (how unlike the understated "mansions" being built presently). A wander round parts of Hunter's Bar in Sheffield shows some rather expensive use of sandstone in garden walling with very careful selection of stone of gradually diminishing thickness with wall height, the amount of waste that would generate to get it just right must have been quite high.

If Burtersett had access to relatively high quality sandstone I suspect they would have taken full use of it selling to that market, I suppose it's always possible there are account books still about that would indicate who and maybe where they were selling to and the price they could get.

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#16

"Jim MacPherson" wrote:
It seems quite a commonplace in the later Victorian and Edwardian higher-end housing market to demand and pay for better quality products that stood out (how unlike the understated "mansions" being built presently). A wander round parts of Hunter's Bar in Sheffield shows some rather expensive use of sandstone in garden walling with very careful selection of stone of gradually diminishing thickness with wall height, the amount of waste that would generate to get it just right must have been quite high.

This is the street where my brother lives, in Bury.

🔗105426[linkphoto]105426[/linkphoto][/link]

certainly saved a bundle on cement! :thumbup:

MARK

festina lente[i]

PeteJ
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#17

I know that this is off topic.......at Nenthead, we stripped a roof from a farm at Bowes and transported the material to Nenthead (legally in all respects). This was for an Explosives Store rebuild - I can confirm that the stone slates are heavy. Dave Carlisle's trailer was the star turn when it almost caught fire under load - due to tyres rubbing on the body.

Pete Jackson
Frosterley
01388527532

Jimbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#18

"Hammy" wrote:
I think that the farmer is correct and that Burtersett is indeed a slate mine, albeit sandstone slate.

The rock up there has a remarkably uniform and well developed cleavage plane. I'm not sure whether the cleavage plane at Burtersett corresponds to the bedding plane, and the piece I brought home and rived myself has disappeared so I can't check it without revisiting the site.

It is possible to rive very thin sandstone slates at Burtersett, as can be seen in the large amount of discarded material at the mine site. It is most unlike the usual thick flag roofing 'slates' normally associated with roofs in the Dales.

Have added 'slate' into the mine title to keep everyone happy! :thumbup:

"PDHMS, WMRG, DCC, Welsh Mines Society, Northern Mines Research Group, Nenthead Mines Society and General Forum Gobshite!"

Jim MacPherson
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#19

Haphazardly and by-the-by, the nature of the sandstone might be why John took the pic ( from the early 70's) below as it does show a very fine-grained structure and distinct narrow bedding

🔗104082[linkphoto]104082[/linkphoto][/link]

I think I have some more lurking in the photos I have just finished digitising.

Boy Engineer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#20

"Jim MacPherson" wrote:
Haphazardly and by-the-by, the nature of the sandstone might be why John took the pic ( from the early 70's) below as it does show a very fine-grained structure and distinct narrow bedding

🔗104082[linkphoto]104082[/linkphoto][/link]

I think I have some more lurking in the photos I have just finished digitising.

I would have loved to use that picture on April 1st as a shot in the famous Wriggly Tin Mine. The modern stuff is made by machine, but of course it was originally mined.