Report on 2016 Activities

Guided Walk from Thornton-le-Dale to Ellerburn Church

For the last meeting of Summer 2016, fifteen Members of HAHS and the Thornton-le-Dale History Society assembled next to the Market Cross on Saturday 30th July for a 4km guided walk of Thornton-le-Dale to Ellerburn.

Peter Turton took us up Chestnut Avenue, pointing out Lady Lumley's Alms Houses, and The Old Grammar School. We then turned up Thornton Beck, passing the much-photographed Thatched Cottage.....

before turning left along Priestman's Lane towards Victory Mill. We then took a pleasant footpath adjacent to the Beck, arriving shortly at Ellerburn Church....

then returning via a different path to Church Lane, and a look around All Saints Church.

More details on all the above can be seen on the Thornton-le-Dale website...

Our thanks are due to Peter Turton for his enthusiastic and informative tour. See what you might have missed!

Guided Tour of Rosedale Mining and Railways

The weather on the morning of Saturday 9th July 2016 was not promising, with heavy showers; however, by the time ten Members of HAHS had assembled at School Row, Updale, it was largely dry - if very overcast.

We were met by Linda and Paddy Chambers of the Rosedale History Society, who took us on a 3½ hour, 4.6km guided tour of the remains of mining and railways along the east side of Rosedale; from School Row, we passed Hill Cottages, Low Baring railway buildings - then north along the tramway to High Baring railway workshops and miners' cottages, as far as the remains of Black Houses railway cottages. We then retraced along the old railway track, as shown on the following GPS trace...

As we progressed, we were told of the history, and were shown many excellent old images of the area.

"Rosedale Mines and Railways" by R.H Hayes and J.G. Rutter is an excellent book for further reading. The websites Abandoned Communities ..... Rosedale, Rosedale Railways, and Subterranea Brittanica are worth a look...

Paddy Chambers' Flickr album Rosedale Mining and Railways has some splendid, current images - and is highly recommended.

The above image (thanks, Paddy!) shows Members of HAHS in front of an archway marking a drift entrance to the East Mines ironstone mine; see how happy we are - and what you may have missed!

The Society is most grateful to Linda and Paddy for their excellent, informative presentation and guided tour.