The Jet Project· Page 2 · AditNow Community

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Peter Burgess
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9 years ago

#21

Although this is far away from Sussex, and I have never been to the area, this topic is really fascinating for me. I am quite envious of someone having a completely unresearched subject to work on!

christwigg
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#22

Thanks for all the encouragement.

I suppose another bonus of the lack of much literature is theres no-one to tell me when I get it all wrong :lol:

Jim MacPherson
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Newbie

9 years ago

#23

Would some "field walking" help be of use? if so can I pass on your map to my brother (who seems quite keen) he lives near Thirsk so Osmotherly and Bilsdale are quite convenient for him to examine.

If that is OK and of use if you want to PM me an email address that he contact you on with then you have at least one slave.

simonrail
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#24

But Chris, you are forgetting that Wesker 26 had a past life as a jet miner and will soon tell you when you get it wrong, as he tries to do with the rest of us in CMHS (sorry Dave!).

Perhaps the most relevant published information to your study is in The Cleveland Industrial Archaeologist No. 30 of 2005 - A Jet Mine in Chapel Wood, Ingleby Arnecliffe by Peter Ryder and Ernie Shield. The plans given are very similar to your surveys. I can loan you a copy.

Simon.

Yes, I'll have it - what is it?

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#25

Thanks for the offer of help Jim, but I can't see me moving away from the immediate area in the near future until we've exhausted all the underground leads around there which at the moment is a huge number.

We have had a couple of brief pokes around Bilsdale and Tripsdale which all yielded a number of leads that havent been pushed yet either, due lack of ropes etc.

So its going to take a LONG time to get everywhere.

I've got the Chapel Wood survey already thanks Simon, when projected onto Google Earth it shows theres potentially a lot more to the SW out in the open fields if the tips are anything to go by (also none of which i've yet had the time to explore or push)

Well at least if Tata Steel goes bust i'll have something to do next summer.

[photo]103283[/photo]

christwigg
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#26

Extended our survey to 2.7km on Thursday night.

As you can see from the tips, theres still a long way to go in both directions.

🔗103296[linkphoto]103296[/linkphoto][/link]

Jim MacPherson
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Newbie

9 years ago

#27

Look fascinating, I never realised the workings were so extensive, are they pillar and stall style diggings?

From what little I know of jet workings (which is next to nothing) are they always above ironstone and do they relate to the outcrops of coal at all? Is the statification that clear anyway?

Sorry, if you're busy please ignore the questions and keep exploring, your research has dragged me back to my transport geography project at university which was looking at the Grosmont-Pickering line, the ironstone workings and related blast furnaces at Goathland (and the horse-worked incline). Strange how the mind works added to which when I last worked in M'bro for BSC they employed some 200,000 people overall. Don't time change.

christwigg
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Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#28

It looks like pillar and stall, but really they are just trying to maximise their chances of hitting a jet log at random somewhere in the strata.

Start at the bottom, then bring the roof down over and over.

Lots of the workings are just a short distance above the ironstone. Where you find ironstone mines you nearly always find jet mines very close by.
I've seen no correlation with coal.

I wrote a little article about the failed ironworks at Beck Hole a few years ago, its hiding away on here somewhere.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Beckhole-Iron-Mine/Final-Beck-Hole-Article.pdf

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#29

That also shook something else loose for me, I started to write a follow-up in 2012 that I never got around to finishing.

I may as well post that here too for anyone who's interested in the future.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Beckhole-Smelt-Mill-2/beck-hole-what-the-papers-say.pdf

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#30

As an end of year update, the survey is now 3.4km and still going.

🔗103563[linkphoto]103563[/linkphoto][/link]

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#31

Filling in gaps and approaching 5km
🔗104884[linkphoto]104884[/linkphoto][/link]

Alasdair Neill
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#32

I think somewhere I have some indexed references to Jet from the Inspectors of Mines reports, Mineral Statistics etc. in case you have not seen these.

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#33

Yes, anything you've got would be greatlfully received.

The industry was notoriously secretive, so I would be very interested if they were naming locations.

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#34

Well after 16 trips the survey is up to 6.8km and nearly finished.

🔗105909[linkphoto]105909[/linkphoto][/link]

Artifacts spread across that distance are one spade and the badger skeleton with a very rusty old trap around its leg.

Jimbo
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Newbie

9 years ago

#35

Well done Chris, it's definitely a lot more extensive than any of us would have guessed, is there much in the way of artefacts to be seen within the workings? Definitely looking forward to a visit sometime and the publication of a suitable tome to rival even the musings of a certain Mr Chapman!! 😉 :thumbup:

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

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#36

Quite remarkable. I guess this overturns the traditional image of jet mining as a small scale artisanal enterprise.

My preconception of the jet industry was that each working was a small group of (possibly ex ironstone) miners pottering away independently. Whilst no doubt this was the case in a number of locations like Roseberry and Snotterdale the size of workings you've surveyed suggests large scale organisation.

Can't wait to see a publication.

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#37

At the other end of the scale......

One aspect of the jet industry which was totally ephemeral was "beach walking" (my term). As cliffs were eroded people were collecting and selling jet to workshops. I seem to recall my brother doing this in the 1970s for beer money.

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#38

Jimbo

"christwigg" wrote:

Artifacts spread across that distance are one spade and the badger skeleton with a very rusty old trap around its leg.

Thats your lot i'm afraid !:lol:

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#39

Crikey, that survey's starting to resemble Box or Middleton!

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#40

It will never reach that level of popularity though.

Theres not a single passage in the whole 6.8km that's wide enough to swing your burning wire-wool in. :lol:

Not unless you're really into setting your trousers on fire in a confined space.