Kilton Mine early 1970''s(?)

Taken sometime after closure (1963) and before photo already in this album (1975 - based on state of buildings eg roof on middle distance RH range). The view is to the south as per link provided by Yorkshireman of 1950 OS and current OS mapping aerial view, probably from near the top of the spoil tip.

Explanation thanks to simonrail

Kilton Mine photo description.

Front left the square brick wall is around the downcast shaft which at this time was still 700 feet deep (since filled). The big concrete building behind was the main winding house erected about 1913 to contain new electric winding equipment. Behind this is a row of workshops; at left end a shop for maintaining diesel locos introduced underground here in 1951, the first in Cleveland. Adjoining to right the original workshops of 1875. The long low row in front of the hedge comprised offices and ambulance room.
In right foreground is the small weigh-bridge office and behind an engine house for underground haulage (ropes down the back shaft) later converted to a winding house for the same shaft.
The central square red tower with the diagonal stripe is the airlock at the top of the upcast or backshaft. To its left, with twin towers, electric sub-station of 1913. In front is exhaust tower (evasee) from single inlet Sirocco fan. To left again the single peaked wall is the remains of the engine house for a steam-driven Guibal fan 30 feet diameter. This building was later converted to a lamp cabin. In front of the peaked wall is the evasee from an Aeroto through-flow fan of 1950s vintage which was sited in the gap at the base where the tree is growing.
From the downcast shaft at left to the front of the upcast was the heapstead containing a large picking belt which is why the huge mound of shale was built from this viewpoint and not directly from the shaft.
Kilton Mine was sunk 1871 to 74 then abandoned. Re-opened 1897 and closed again 1920s. Re-opened again 1938 and closed 1963.
In 2016 the concrete winding house remains in precarious state, the sub-station is damaged, and both shafts filled. Otherwise the site is overgrown and other buildings demolished. The conical tip remains as a RIGS in spite of the occasional attempts to remove it by the usual unimaginative local councillor.

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This photograph was uploaded January 1^st 2016 by Jim MacPherson.

Copyright / re-use statement: JF MacPherson

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