Much of the output from the Great Northern Coalfield went downriver to the
coast for shipment via sea to London in the pre- and early railway period
hence coal for the alum industry of Yorkshire also took a sea route to reach
Whitby and the coastal alum works. To reach the inland works such as Belman
near Guisborough coal was landed at Coatham and a river port on the Tees
today known as Cargo Fleet, before transport by cart.
I don't think there are any specific totals recorded of coal transported to
the alum industry; you might have to work out the general consumption of
each works based on the numbers of boiling pans per house which were the
major users of coal. The calcining of shale in each works appears to have
used relatively little coal.
Simon.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Syer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: Mining archaeology seminar Snibston, Leicestershire, 10 April
Please can you advise whether papers from the Snibston seminar are
available? Specifically, I'd be grateful to have sight of the one by David
Pybus, about the alum industry on the North Yorkshire coast.
I've read in Hatcher (1993) that at least three tons of coal were needed to
produce one ton of alum. But I've not managed to find out what quantities of
alum were produced in North Yorkshire, and therefore how much coal therefore
had to be transported into the area.
I've also noted reference to coal being shipped to Whitby etc. from Tyneside
for alum production. But I'd dearly like to know if much coal is known to
have been transported over land from the Durham coalfield, before the
railway age - especially to the Guisborough area.
Thanks for any help on this.
Mike
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