Print

Print


Most of the ropeways listed so far are of early 20th century construction -
when they were nearly 10 a penny, being used on collieries, other mines,
quarries and brickworks.

Ignoring Blondins, there are two principal types of ropeway.  The first has
one continuous rope (to which the buckets are attached) and which runs over
pulleys.  The second type has a fixed carrying rope and the buckets are hung
from it and run on pulleys.  Motion is given by a lighter haulage rope.

Henry Robinson of Settle in Yorkshire, who was described variously as coal
agent and quarry owner, patented a monocable ropeway in 1856/7.  One
possible site of such a ropeway has now been discounted and we have no
knowledge that Robinson ever built one.

Charles Hodgson, of Richmond in Surrey, got a patent for the latter type of
ropeway in 1868.   He formed the Wire Tramway Company, but it was declared
bankrupt in 1874.  It is said to have built ropeways at Richmond (Surrey),
Bardon Hill granite quarry (Leicestershire) and Brighton.

Mike Gill