Continuing my fetish for all things associated with the ironstone industry in the area, I went off trudging over bleak, boggy and barren moor all in the name of exploring Rosedale Head culvert. I've been hiking and biking in this area since I was a nipper but never explored the culverts. Time to put that right.
History
Rosedale was pretty much the exclusive preserve of remote hill farmers and the odd monk or two until the 1850s when the ironstone frenzy that gripped much of this area really got going. Mines were established in the east and west of the valley (Sheriff's Pit, on the west side, still has a gaping chasm in the form of an open shaft leading down to the bottom of the workings but, as far as I'm aware, no-one has ever explored it) and several sets of calcining kilns were also built to help increase the amount of viable ore that could be transported by the newly built railway spur. This spur ran up a long and steep incline at Battersby then traversed the valley heads of Farndale and Westerdale before arriving at Blakey Junction. Here, a branch ran south to Sheriff's Pit and another north around the head of Rosedale before terminating at the kilns of the East Mines. Many huge embankments had to be built to maintain a steady downward gradient between Blakey Junction and the East Mines and these obviously necessitated culverts being established.
Rosedale Head culvert allows for the passage of the infant River Seven which then meanders through the valley before joining the River Rye some 25km downstream. It's in remarkably good condition for a 170-year-old structure, although the base consists of sandstone blocks which are now horribly slippery from mud and moss. The culvert also contains a substantial set of falls after the first thirty metres or so which makes a full traverse a seriously sketchy expedition (they're horrendously slippery, even more so than the culvert base) - I didn't bother and just explored in from both ends, avoiding the falls completely!
The culvert
After squelching over a kilometre or so of horribly mossy, boggy and heathery moorland, you spot the embankment at the head of the valley. At this point, the River Seven carves itself a steep little ravine before entering the culvert. The presence of ironstone in the surrounding strata is evident from the colour of the water.
North portal:
Another shot of the north portal, showing the embankment. This doesn't do the embankment justice in terms of size.
Looking back up the ravine from the entrance to the culvert:
Entering the north portal, you see a well-constructed arched culvert in remarkable condition:
You can see the culvert falls away a few metres in front of me here - didn't have the inclination to go down here on my arse and get my camera gear wet, so retreated out, climbed the embankment, down the other side and entered from the south portal.
Looking towards the north portal entrance:
The south portal has a much more impressive arrangement:
The river then continues downstream over some more major falls. But I wasn't after that - I wanted more culvert!
The culvert has a slight bend in it once you enter the south portal and two distinct roof levels.
Looking up the slippery falls of doom:
Looking back and spotting the different roof levels - it really is a high roof in places!
Looking back out towards the light:
And one more of the south portal entrance before we trudge back over endless boggy moorland to the car.
I was on a fairly limited timescale today so didn't get across to Reeking Gill culvert , Nab Scar culvert or any of the others that pierce the embankments that carried the ironstone railway. Ones for another time and another report!
Thanks for reading.
History
Rosedale was pretty much the exclusive preserve of remote hill farmers and the odd monk or two until the 1850s when the ironstone frenzy that gripped much of this area really got going. Mines were established in the east and west of the valley (Sheriff's Pit, on the west side, still has a gaping chasm in the form of an open shaft leading down to the bottom of the workings but, as far as I'm aware, no-one has ever explored it) and several sets of calcining kilns were also built to help increase the amount of viable ore that could be transported by the newly built railway spur. This spur ran up a long and steep incline at Battersby then traversed the valley heads of Farndale and Westerdale before arriving at Blakey Junction. Here, a branch ran south to Sheriff's Pit and another north around the head of Rosedale before terminating at the kilns of the East Mines. Many huge embankments had to be built to maintain a steady downward gradient between Blakey Junction and the East Mines and these obviously necessitated culverts being established.
Rosedale Head culvert allows for the passage of the infant River Seven which then meanders through the valley before joining the River Rye some 25km downstream. It's in remarkably good condition for a 170-year-old structure, although the base consists of sandstone blocks which are now horribly slippery from mud and moss. The culvert also contains a substantial set of falls after the first thirty metres or so which makes a full traverse a seriously sketchy expedition (they're horrendously slippery, even more so than the culvert base) - I didn't bother and just explored in from both ends, avoiding the falls completely!
The culvert
After squelching over a kilometre or so of horribly mossy, boggy and heathery moorland, you spot the embankment at the head of the valley. At this point, the River Seven carves itself a steep little ravine before entering the culvert. The presence of ironstone in the surrounding strata is evident from the colour of the water.
North portal:
Another shot of the north portal, showing the embankment. This doesn't do the embankment justice in terms of size.
Looking back up the ravine from the entrance to the culvert:
Entering the north portal, you see a well-constructed arched culvert in remarkable condition:
You can see the culvert falls away a few metres in front of me here - didn't have the inclination to go down here on my arse and get my camera gear wet, so retreated out, climbed the embankment, down the other side and entered from the south portal.
Looking towards the north portal entrance:
The south portal has a much more impressive arrangement:
The river then continues downstream over some more major falls. But I wasn't after that - I wanted more culvert!
The culvert has a slight bend in it once you enter the south portal and two distinct roof levels.
Looking up the slippery falls of doom:
Looking back and spotting the different roof levels - it really is a high roof in places!
Looking back out towards the light:
And one more of the south portal entrance before we trudge back over endless boggy moorland to the car.
I was on a fairly limited timescale today so didn't get across to Reeking Gill culvert , Nab Scar culvert or any of the others that pierce the embankments that carried the ironstone railway. Ones for another time and another report!
Thanks for reading.
That stonework is beaut.
