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There was also a slight involvement in Cleveland ironstone. Alexander Brogden was in partnership with Edward Robson (the local man) to form the Saltburn Ironstone Company which in 1867 sunk two shafts to reach the Main Seam at a depth of 225 feet and so started the Crags Hall Mine (NZ 701196). However by mid-1869 a new company, the Cragshall Ironstone Company, appeared to be operating the mine with Edward Robson and John Vaughan as the partners and no more appears to have been heard of Brogden.

Intriguingly, a mile away in 1872 were developed the two blast furnaces of the Loftus Iron Co. (NZ 710200) by Kennedy, Crossley, Westray, Rawlinson and others predominantly involved in the West Coast iron trade, just like the Brogdens. Again, intriguingly, for a few years the Loftus Iron Co. had a colliery in South Wales at Llanllay, somewhere near Llantrissant. Otherwise the Cleveland iron trade was dominated by North Eastern companies.

Simon.