UK Gazetteer - Aerial Ropeways

Aerial Ropeways - UK Gazetteer

I suspect that there have been at least several hundred Aerial Ropeways installed in the UK over the years ¹, so realise that this listing is far from exhaustive but my intention (and hope), is that it will become just that, in the fullness of time. To this end I'd therefore appreciate learning of any Ropeways you may know once existed or of additional details for those already listed. The source of any information will of course be duly credited - so please do get in touch. A huge thank you to all those who have helped so far.
For those of you who have got this far, and possibly already sifted through some of the contents of these pages, perhaps you're wondering just why did I compile this little lot...
The reasons are indeed numerous, and include the following :
- I'm a mechanical engineer, ropeways are quintessential examples of the art of this science, albeit, one of a bygone age. Whether or not this remains the case, only time will tell.
- I have memories as a youngster seeing one of the ropeways making its way over the road between Teesside and Newcastle (the A19 ?) with coal/shale waste in the early 1970's. It fascinated me then, as much as the memory intrigues me now.
- I have a strong interest in Industrial Archaeology, which includes old mines, to which ropeways have on occasion served. So any remains found while investigating mine workings in the field have been duly photographed and recorded. Likewise, books covering the mines, frequently detail, or at least mention, the associated ropeways.
- A visit (in 2004) to the last working ropeway in the UK, at Claughton, Lancashire, rekindled my interest in these devices. (As of the end of 2009, sadly this was put under care and maintenance, due to a ceasing of brickmaking at Claughton.)
- I don't believe, (but please advise if I'm mistaken), that anyone else has compiled a similar gazetteer.

Mike Munro

Notes : (on use of The Gazetteer)
- Note that this page is still very much in the process of being completed. Grid refs, and other data, are in the process of being confirmed and entered. Also, (as of Jan 2010), I have at least another 50 to 60 ropeways (of which I have some form of reference to) to add to the list.
- For an entry with scant info, (from predominantly secondary references), basic details are referenced at the foot of the listing, and linked by the reference number after the name. Use the browsers back arrow to return to the listing.
[Occasionally, conflicting details between different references have been found to occur. Such instances have been duly noted, with the intent that primary references will be consulted (at some point !) to resolve the conflict.]
Where a reference letter is (also) shown, this links to the name of the person who first made me aware of that particular ropeway.
- If an existing web page details all I know, then the name is linked to that external web page, as indicated by an asterisk after it. (Note that this will open in a new page.)
- Where more data has been gathered, then an 'Info-sheet' for that particular ropeway has been created, and the name is linked to that, which may possibly contain copies of maps, further references, and links to external web pages as appropriate.
[Note that a number of these are still being drafted - your patience is appreciated !]
- The listing has been kept on a single page so that the Internet Browsers' page search facility can be used to locate a specific ropeway, (click on 'Edit' > 'Find (on This Page)', or hit 'Ctrl' & 'F' keys together), using means other than the name of the works it served. The names used are based on the names of the works, mines, quarries etc. they served, which in some cases have been guessed at, or particularly in the case of mines, may have had more than one name, although that pertaining at the time of installation/operation (if known) of the ropeway has been used.
- The overall width of the text has been limited so that this page (and the 'Info Sheets', where created, for the individual installations) will (it is hoped) print sensibly on to A4 paper.
Click here to download a PDF format of this listing.

Locational Index

Last updated on 2^nd December 2010

Name of 'Works' Served	Location	County	Country	Material Transported	NGR
Aber Iron Mine ⁸⁸	Coed Tanyrallt	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Fe Ore	SH 665 730
Abercynon Colliery¹⁰³	Abercynon	Glamorganshire	Wales	Shale/Waste	ST 081 943 Colliery
Acorn Bank ³⁷	Kirkby Thore	Cumbria	England	Gypsum	NY 654 256 Start
Ardenrigg No.6¹²¹	Caldercruix	Lanarkshire	Scotland	Coal/Clay(?)	NS 804 672 Terminus
Arngill Colliery¹¹², ^j	Woodland	Durham	England	Coal	NZ 071 243 Colliery
Astbury Silica Mine¹²², ^m	Congleton	Cheshire	England	Ganister	SJ 870 595 Quarry
Ayton Banks Mine	Great Ayton	Yorkshire, North	England	Ironstone	~NZ 587 110 Quarry
Alveley Colliery ⁹⁴		Shropshire	England	Coal	SO 752 842 Colliery
Barcombe Colliery *	Bardon Mill	Northumberland	England	Coal	NY 782 669 Colliery
Bardon Hill (Quarry) Ropeway or wire drawn tramway ?	Leicester	Leicestershire	England	Limestone	SK 456 134 Quarry
Bayton Colliery ²	Cleobury Mortimer	Shropshire	England	Coal	SO 694 733 ??
Beckermet No.1 Pit(See Haile Moor Pit)	Haile	Cumbria	England	Ironstone	NY 042 088 Mine
Belmont Mine	Guisborough	Yorkshire, North	England	Ironstone	NZ 616 145 Loading Station
Betchworth Lime Works⁷²	Betchworth	Surrey	England	Limestone	TQ 205 515 Quarry
Billingsley Brickworks
Birchenwood Colliery Co. Ltd.¹¹⁵, ^l	Kidsgrove	Staffordshire	England	Shale Waste	SJ 850 542 Colliery
Birkshead Mine ²⁶^,³⁹	Kirkby Thore	Cumbria	England	Gypsum	NY 667 257 Mine
Blackhall Rocks ^b^,⁴⁰	Hartlepool	Durham	England	Colliery Waste	NZ 464 390
Blaen Ceulan ¹⁰⁰	Talybont	Cardiganshire	Wales	Pb ore ?	SN 715 904 Mine
Bog Mine⁸⁵		Shropshire	England	Pb ore	SO 358 978
Bogton Mine ⁷⁶ Dalmellington Iron Co.	Dalmellington - west of	Ayrshire	Scotland	Coal	NS 475 058 Mine
Boltsburn Washing⁴⁶ [Coal+Product]	Rookhope	Durham	England	Pb ore, Fluorspar & coal	NY 939 425 Mill
Boltsburn Washing¹¹⁵ [Waste]	Rookhope	Durham	England	Fluorspar [waste]	NY 939 425 Mill
Britannia Mine⁹	Snowdonia	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Cu ore
Bronfloyd⁵	Nr Aberystwyth	Cardiganshire	Wales	Pb ore
Buckhill Colliery * Allerdale Colliery Co. Ltd	Great Broughton	Cumbria (Cumberland)	England	Coal	NY 058 320 Colliery
Burnfoot No.11 pit⁷⁷ Dalmellington Iron Co.	Dalmellington	Ayrshire	Scotland	Ironstone	NS 4?? 0??
Bursledon Brickworks ⁹⁹, ^f	Southampton	Hampshire	England	Clay
Celynen South ^c, ⁴⁴	Newbridge	Gwent	Wales
Claughton Brick Works	Claughton	Lancashire	England	Clay
Claughton Brick Works	Claughton	Lancashire	England	Clay
Cleveland Works		Cleveland, Yorks N.	England
Clogau ⁷³		Meirionethshire	Wales	Au ore
Coed Ely Cokeworks¹²⁰	Llantrisant	Glamorganshire	Wales	Waste	~ST 015 858
Comrie Colliery ⁷¹	Oakley	Fife	Scotland	Shale/colliery waste	NT 0053 9100
Consett Iron Co.	Consett	Durham	England	Ganister	NZ 103 443 Quarry
Craster Quarry ¹⁰⁹^, ^h	Craster	Northumberland	England	Whinstone
Crown Mine¹⁰	Rhiw, Llyn	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Mn ore
Cwm Buchan ⁸	Beddgellert	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Cu ore	NG
Cwm Orog	Tanat Valley	Powys	Wales	Pb ore / Baryte	SJ 052 274 Mine
Cwm Rheidol ⁴	Nr Aberystwyth	Cardiganshire	Wales	(?) ore - dressed
Dalbeattie ²⁰	Dumfries	Dumfrieshire	Scotland	Granite
Deep Dyffryn Colliery ^c	Mountain Ash		Wales
Dinas Quartzite Mine ²⁴	Pontneathvaughan	Glamorganshire	Wales	Silica Sand
Dormont Quarry ¹⁰⁶	Canonbie	Dumfrieshire	Scotland	Limestone	NY 440 784 Quarry
Emborough Quartzite Quarries ⁷⁸	Emborough	Somerset	England	Quartz / Granite	ST 51? 61?
Eskmeals Granite Quarry ⁹⁰	Newbiggin	Cumbria	England	Granite	SD 112 944 Quarry
Force Crag Mine ⁹¹	Braithwaite	Cumbria	England	Pb, Zn, Ba ores	NY 193 214 Mill
Frongoch (See Gwaithgoch)		Cardiganshire	Wales	Pb & Zn ore waste
Gareg Fawr ⁸⁷	Cwm Gwyrfai	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Fe ore	SH 5425 5770 Mine
Garw Colliery ⁷⁵	Blaengarw	Glamorganshire	Wales	Shale/colliery waste	SS 8985 9520 Loading Station
Geevor Tin Mine ⁶⁵	Pendeen	Cornwall	England	Sn ore
Gwaith-goch (mill at) ³	Pontrhydygroes	Cardiganshire	Wales	Pb & Zn ore waste
Gwydyr Quarries Ltd^{Cae Coch Pyrite Mine}	Trefriw	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Granite Fe Pyrite	SH 777 658
Giggleswick Lime Works ⁴⁵	Settle	Yorkshire, North	England	Limestone	SD 808 648 Quarry
Haile Moor Pit ⁵⁹(Beckermet No.1 Pit)	Haile	Cumbria	England	Ironstone	NY 042 088 Mine
Harestones Umber Mine ⁶²	Caldbeck Fells	Cumbria	England	China Clay/Umber	NY 304 346
Heights Quarry¹¹¹	Weardale	Durham	England	Limestone	NY 925 388 Quarry
High Blue Quarry ¹⁶	Coniston	Cumbria	England	Slate	SD 295 986 Quarry
High Crossgill Mine ⁶⁰ Parkside Mining Co.	Frizington	Cumbria	England	Iron Ore	NY 0335 1600 Mine
Highley Pit ⁹³		Shropshire	England	Coal	SO 747 830 Colliery
Hilltop Colliery ²¹	Langley Park	Durham	England	Coal	NZ 21 44 Colliery
Hob Hill ⁵¹	Saltburn-by-Sea	Yorkshire, North	England	Ironstone
Honister ¹⁵		Cumbria	England	Slate
Hook, Lower	Hook	Pembrokeshire	Wales	Coal
Horden Colliery ⁴⁰		Durham	England	Coal waste
Huglith		Shropshire	England
Kentmere ^c	Kentmere	Cumbria	England	Diatomite	NY 456 022 Works
Klondyke Mill ⁵³		Caernarvonshire	Wales	Pb & Zn ores
Lindsay (Kelty 4 & 5) Colliery ⁷⁹		Fife	Scotland	Shale/Colliery waste	NT 1484 9414
Liverton Mine ⁵²	Liverton, Loftus	Yorkshire, North	England	Shale waste
Llanbradach Colliery ⁴⁴	Llanbradach, Caerphilly	Glamorgan	Wales	Shale/Colliery waste	ST 138 915 Tips ST 1485 9085 Colliery
Llanhilleth Colliery ⁴³	?	?	Wales	Shale/Colliery waste	SO 220 003 Colliery
Loch Valerain ¹⁰⁵	Staffin	Isle of Skye	Scotland	Diatomite	NG 465 695 Loch
Long Fell Barytes Ltd. ⁶⁴	Hilton	Cumbria	England	Barytes	NY 765 195 Mine
Longframlington pit ⁴¹	Longframlington	Northumberland	England	Coal	NU 1305 0215 Colliery
Lovat Estate ¹⁰⁷	Beauly	Inverness-shire	Scotland	Timber	NH 518 464 Rail siding
Llyn Fawr Reservoir¹⁰¹	Hirwaun	Mid Glamorgan	Wales	Construction Materials	SN ~ 946 062 Railhead
Magpie Hill Quarry ⁵⁷	Clee Hill	Shropshire	England	Granite	SO ~ 614 770
Marine Colliery ⁴²^, ^g	Cwm, Ebbw Vale	Gwent	Wales	Shale/Colliery waste	SO 189 039 Colliery
Markham Colliery ¹¹³^, ^k	Sirhowy Valley	Glamorgan	Wales	Shale/Colliery waste	SO 167 021 Colliery
Moel Ispri Gold Mine ¹⁴	Maestryfor	Merionethshire	Wales	Au ore	SH 7xx 2yy
Mill close Mine ¹¹⁰	Darley Dale	Derbyshire	England	Coal/Gravel	SK 258 623 Mine
Morrinton Quarry ¹⁰⁴	Stepford	Dumfriesshire	Scotland	Limestone (?)	NX 869 815 Quarry
Moss Head (Main Bank) ³¹	Coniston	Cumbria	England	Slate	SD ~ 277 979 Quarry
Moss Head (Spion Kop) ³²	Coniston	Cumbria	England	Slate	SD ~ 277 979 Quarry
Nantlle Vale Mine ⁷		Caernarfonshire	Wales	Pb ore	SH 536 535
Nettleton Top Mine ¹¹⁹	Nettleton	Lincolnshire	England	Fe ore	TF 1106 9811 Mine
New Stamphill Mine ²⁵^, ³⁸	Kirkby Thore	Cumbria	England	Gypsum	NY 654 256 Mine
Newton Mine (See Woodbine Pit)	Furness	Cumbria	England	Fe ore	SD 235 724
Niclausse Boiler Works & Steelworks ⁷⁴	Queensferry	Cheshire	England	Coal
Parkgate Colliery ⁹²	Elsecar	Yorkshire	England	Coal ?
Pleasley Colliery ¹⁰⁸	Pleasley	Nottinghamshire	England	Waste	SK 4984 6435 Mine
Port Sunlight Works ⁶⁹ Messrs. Lever Bros.			England	Raw matls., inc. Alkali
Potts Gill Baryte Mine ⁴⁸	Caldbeck Fells	Cumbria	England	Baryte	NY 3195 3660 Mine
Preston Quarry ¹³	Preston under-Scar	Yorkshire, North	England	Limestone	SE 076 915 Quarry
Priors Moor¹⁰²	Billingsley	Shropshire	England	'Slack'/Bricks	SE 076 915 Quarry
Redmire Quarry ²⁷	Redmire	Yorkshire, North	England	Limestone	SE 047 930 Quarry
Rhos Clogwyn ⁸¹	Cwm Gwyrfai	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Slate	SH 576 530 Quarry
Rookhope *			England
Rothes Colliery ¹¹⁶^, ⁿ	Glanrothes	Fife	Scotland	Shale Waste	NT 281 973 Mine
Rothwell Hill Quarry⁹⁷	Rothwell, Corby	Northamptonshire	England	Ironstone	SP 803 816 Quarry
Ruthin Quarry ⁷⁰^, ^e	Ruthin	Glamorganshire	Wales	Limestone	SS 974 795 Quarry
Shillingstone Lime Works	Shillingstone	Dorset	England	Chalk	SY 823 097 Quarry
Silverband Mine ¹⁸	Gt. Dun Fell	Cumbria	England	Baryte ore	NY 703 317 Mine
Silverband Mill ⁸⁹	Millburn Grange	Cumbria	England	Baryte - dressed	NY 673 278 Mill
Silvertown Works ⁶⁸ Messrs. Henry Tate & Sons	Silvertown	London	England	Sugar
Spawood Mine ⁴⁹	Slapewath	Cleveland, Yorks N.	England	Shale waste	NZ 638 157 Mine
Spion Cop ³⁰	Coniston	Cumbria	England	Slate	SO ~277 978 Quarry
Tan-y-Graig Quarry ⁵⁴		Caernarfonshire	Wales	Stone
Tilmanstone Colliery ¹¹⁴	Dover	Kent	England	Coal
Trecastle Mine ¹²	nr Conwy	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Pb &Zn ore	SH 760 745
Upton Colliery ⁵⁰			England
Victoria Colliery ¹²³^, ^l	Biddulph	Staffordshire	England	Shale Waste	SJ 878 553 Colliery
Wellhope shaft ⁴⁷	Nenthead	Cumbria	England	Pb & Zn ore
Wentwood Water-works ¹⁹	Newport	Monmouthshire	Wales	Clay
Whittle Pit - See above
Woodbine Pit²³ Newton Mine	Furness	Cumbria	England	Fe ore	SD 235 724
Wrengill Quarry ²²	Longsleddale	Cumbria	England	Slate	~NY 475 086
Yew Crags Quarry ⁵⁶	Honister	Cumbria	England	Slate
Ystrad Iron Mine ⁸⁶	Cwm Gwyrfai	Caernarfonshire	Wales	Fe Ore	SH 542 576 Crusher
-- Still to be identified --
Unidentified Quarry/Mine (?) ⁶⁶		Warwickshire	England	Ironstone
Unknown Mine⁹⁶	Aberdare	Glamorganshire	Wales	Shale/colliery waste	SN 972 037 Stanchion
Unknown⁹⁸	Hebden	Yorkshire	England


___________________________________
References :
1. BRE Co. Ltd. state on their web-site (2008) that 60% of ropeways in the world were supplied by themselves (1,500 in number), this equates to a global installation of 2,500. They also state that 246 of these were in the UK and installed by themselves alone. Given that there have been a number of other companies in the UK manufacturing this type of equipment, it is not then unreasonable to assume that there may well have been several hundred of these machines installed over the years in the UK.
2. 'Aerial Ropeways - Ropeway Conveyor at Bayton Colliery, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire'. Reprinted from 'Engineering' 16th May, 1913. A.J. Mugridge, 1997, 15pp., A5 p.1; 7,030 foot long, monocable type, running from screens at colliery to colliery siding near Cleobury Mortimer Station. Erected by Messrs. R. White and Sons of Widnes - one assumes, before 1913. p.2; Angle station (104.5 degrees), approx mid-way. Standards are between 25 & 50 feet high. p.3; Capacity 35 tons per hour - but could be increased with use of more buckets ! 'A History of the County of Worcester: volume 4', William Page, (J.W.Willis-Bund, Editor), 1924 p.237; 'Coal is dug on land belonging to the lord of the manor, and conveyed by an aerial ropeway to Cleobury Mortimer station.'
3. 'The Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales, Pt.1', D.Bick p.18; '...it being intended to convey the dumps [of Frongoch] to the millvia an aerial ropeway 1 3/4 miles long.' p.19; 'An 11 h.p. Pelton wheel at Frongoch worked the aerial ropeway, the alpine course of which was shown on comtemporary maps.'
'British Mining No. 30' , Frongoch Lead & Zinc Mine, NMRSoc, 1996, D.Bick p.38; 'In September 1919 William Thomas, late head of the mining department of the Cambourne School of Mines, reported as follows:- "An aerial Ropeway has been constructed from FRONGOCH to GWAITH-GOCH mill-site, a distance of 3050 yards. p.40; '..and the mineral conveyed by means of a ropeway (of Messers Ropeways, London) to the mill. The ropeway has a maximum capacity of 15 tons per hour and extends across valleys and down mountain-sides, constituting a most interesting and picturesque sight. Of the buckets that pass along this ropeway, at the time of our correspondent's visit, 66 were operating, each holding about 3 cwt. On arrival at the mill, the ore is dumped into storage bins. The mill itself is of modern construction and capable of treaing 7½ tons per hour.' p.41; Ref.6 'The ropeway ran almost dead-straight, its course being shown on contemporary One-inch Ordnance Survey maps.' p.65; 'A plan showing the lead and zinc dumps (undated, but post-1904) indicates the line of the aerial ropeway to Gwaith-goch.'
Ordnance Survey, New Popular Edition, One-Inch Map (1:63,360) 'Aberystwyth', Sheet 127, 1945. Shown running between Froncoch mine at NGR SN 721 742 and Gwaith-goch Mill at NGR SN 706 720.
4. 'The Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales, Pt.2', D.Bick p.22; Transferred dressed ore to the Vale of Rheidol Railway. 'The Vale of Rheidol Light Railway', C.C. Green, 1986, Wild Swan Publ. p.155; Installed 1903, connecting the mill to the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway at Rhiwfron Siding. Only fitted with two buckets. Plan of mine, railway and ropeway. p.156; Disused 1910. Mine reopened & ropeway put back into use in 1914 by Mr. Hodgkinson-Carrington. Out of use 1925. Date of dismantling not known, but scrapped 1954. Detailed plan and sketch of unloading station. p.157; Spectacular photo looking down ropeway (bicable type) to mill. Haulage cable beneath support cable. No intermediate stanchions.
5. 'The Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales, Pt.3', D.Bick p.26, 27; Hodgson's Patent Tramway, 0.5 miles long, installed circa 1871, & powered by a water wheel - the whole affair was apparently of little use.
6.
7. 'The Old Copper Mines of Snowdonia', D.Bick, 2003 p.60; Installed circa 1907-09.
8. 'The Old Copper Mines of Snowdonia', D.Bick, 2003 p.69, 71; Supplied by R. White & Sons, Widnes, installed circa 1925.
9. 'The Old Copper Mines of Snowdonia', D.Bick, 2003 p.111; Built 1898, 'nearly 1 mile long'.
10. 'The Llyn Peninsular Mines', Wil Williams, 1995 p.7; (English) - 'but there was another fairly prosperous mine, on Crown land, higher up on the Bodwyddog mountain than Benallt, and the ore from this one was transported by aerial cable on pylons. The buckets carried about six hundred-weight, and made its way directly over the village of Rhiw, and down to Garth Pier, at Hell's Mouth.' p.26; (Welsh) - photo of boiler 'Old Steam Engine, used possibly to drive the over-head cable system used at Crown Mine, Rhiw.' p.30; (Welsh) - photo 'Buckets on their way to Hell's Mouth by means of the aerial cable.' p.35; (Welsh) - photo showing wooden towers supporting aerial cableway 'Two ships at Garth pier, Hell's Mouth.'
11.
12. 'Mines of the Gwydyr Forest, Pt.7', J.Bennett & R.W.Vernon, 1997 p.93; Assume ropeway installed 1915, when electricity brought to mine, and stopped work 1920, when mine abandoned. p.94; Auction inventory, 1928 '...Roe's System Aerial Ropeway about 360 yards long with all equipment and 10 B.H.P.Motor,...'
13. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : Wensleydale Sheet 90, 1955 Shown running between quarry and siding on railway at NGR SE 082 907. 'Limestone Industries of the Yorkshire Dales', D.Johnson, 2002 p.155; 1,000 yard (923m) single rope system. 52 buckets.
14. 'Goldmining in Western Merioneth',T.A. Morrision, JMHRSoc, Vol.VII, Pt.2, 1974 p.147; 'Hugh Pugh (Fitar) mentions (in his diaries) an aerial ropeway to take ore to the mill. This was not a success and was dismantled in 1889.' Ref. Merioneth C.R.O. Hugh Pugh. 'The Gold Mines of Merioneth', G.W. Hall, 1st Edn. p.54; Ran from end of tramway (now the 'New Precipice Walk') near farmhouse (NGR SH 697 201) down to mill on west bank of Afon Cwm-mynach opposite Capel Soar. (NGR SH 6880 1975) Ordnance Survey 1:25,000, Outdoor Leisure No.18
15. 'Lakelands Mining Heritage', A.Cameron (Ed.), 2000 p.52; Commissioned 1926, dismantled 1952. Upper terminus still in situ. 'Honister Slate - The History of a Lakeland Slate Mine', I Tyler, 1994 pp.91 & 92; three off photos - indicates bicable arrangement. p.85; Installed by Messers White & Co. Ltd. of Widnes. p.86; 2"diameter support rope, on load side, 1 1/2" return. Ran from No.2 Lancaster level to the Hause, a distance of around 1/2 mile. The longest span between pylons being 700 feet.
16. 'Lakelands Mining Heritage', A.Cameron (Ed.), 2000 p.53; Transport for slate clogs down to Coppermines Valley. Quarry ceased work 1939. Two wire, gravity actuated.
17.
18. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : Penrith Sheet 83, 1964 Shown running between mine and railway at Long Marton, NGR NY 667 246, via. mill at NY 673 278. 'The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide', I. Tyler, 2006 p.41; Installed by LaPorte Chemicals, circa 1937, in use until 1963. 'Beneath The Lakeland Fells', 1992, Red Earth Publ. p.181; Monocable type. BRECO BRECO Ref. B22, Customer; Long Fell Barytes Ltd., monocable type, 10 tons per hour. Ran between mine and works.
19. 'The Mechanical Handling of Material...', G.F.Zimmer, 1905 p.168 & Fig.191; Loading station, erected by the Ropeways Syndicate. Capacity to convey 240 tons per ten hour day. 3.5 miles long.
20. 'The Mechanical Handling of Material...', G.F.Zimmer, 1905 p.169; & 'Fig.195 represents the unloading station of the ropeway for Messrs Newall & Co.'s granite quarries at Dalbeattie, Dumfries. Capacity of line, 250 tons per day of ten hours.' Fig.195 (on p.175); 'Unloading Station of Ropeway on the Roe System.' [Shows unloading station with chute for discharging direct into standard gauge railway wagons.]
21. 'The Mechanical Handling of Material...', G.F.Zimmer, 1905 p.192; 'Ropeway between the Hilltop Colliery, Durham, and the Coke Ovens at Malton. - Portions of this ropeway are illustrated in Figs. 229, 230, and 231. Fig. 229 shows an intermediate angle station, the weights for keeping the rope taut being clearly shown on the structure. Fig.230 is also a portion of the same ropeway, showing a safety net stretched between two of the trestles over some buildings. Fig.231 represents the delivery terminal at the coke-oven end. The coal on arrival at this station is either tipped into railway trucks for sale, or crushed by a disintegrator, and afterwards elevated to the hopper, from which it is trammed to the coke ovens. Colonel S. A. Sadler, M.P., proprietor of the Malton Colliery, entrusted the erection of this ropeway to Mr R.E. Commans, the English representative of Messrs Pohlig. It has been erected on the Otto-Pohlig system, and is one of the longest ropeways in this country, having a total length of 3,520 yards.' Fig.229 (on p.207); 'Intermediate Tightening Station of the Ropeway between the Hilltop Colliery, Durham, and the Coke Ovens, Malton.' [Shows goal-post type stanchions.] Fig.230 (on p.208); 'Example of Safety Net for Otto-Pohlig Ropeway at Malton Colliery.' Fig.231 (on p.209); 'Delivery Terminal at the Coke-oven End.'
22. 'The Slate Quarrying Industry in Westmorland: Part Two. A Field Survey of selected sites in Troutbeck and Longsleddale', David, RG & Brambles, BA, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society, Vol XCII, 1992, pp.221-222; A monocable system, half a mile in length, built by 'Ropeways Ltd.' and previously installed at Newton Mine, until 1944. It was intended to be installed at Wrengill Quarry circa 1946, having been purchased by the Wrangdale Head Slate Co. Ltd., but construction didn't progress beyond the erection of a few bases for the trestles. Note: More details within this reference.
23. 'The Red Earth', D. Kelly, 1998 p.114; 'An aerial ropeway was erected in 1916, to transport the ore from Woodbine Pit to the Furness Railway near Stainton.' p.116; 'Due to subsidence, the ropeway standards had to be moved...' this was in 1927 p.117; Mine ceased working 1944 - ropeway dismantled same year ? p.215; plan showing route of ropeway.] It was intended to be installed at Wrengill Quarry circa 1946, having been purchased by the Wrangdale Head Slate Co. - see ref. ²²
24. 'Dinas Quartzite Mine', A.D. Semmens, The Industrial Railway Record, No.7, Sept 1965 pp.141; August 1963 : 'The present modu operandi is cable operation to an adit top immediately above the one which forms the mine entrance where a very small gantry leads to the aerial ropeway. The latter climbs up one side of the hill, and from there the topmost pylon carries the full strain of the drop to the bottom; the manager said it was the longest aerial ropeway span in the country.'
25.
26. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : 'Penrith', Sheet 83, 1964 Shown running from the mine to the Kirkby Thore 'works' next to railway, (NGR NY 646 267), ~ 3/4 mile NE Kirkby Thore.
27. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : 'Wensleydale', Sheet 90, 1955 Shown running between quarry and railway - Redmire Station at SE 046 915.
'Limestone Industries of the Yorkshire Dales', D.Johnson, 2002. p.153; Built 1919, rated for 140 tons crushed stone per day1,000. In 1938, the 11 wooden standards (pylons) were replaced by 13 steel ones, to enable its capacity to be increased by 40%. Ceased working 1962.
28.
29.
30. 'The Mine Explorer : The Journal of the Cumbria Amenity Trust - Vol.II', 1986 p.59; Route surveyed by Mr Hamilton, surveyor for the Ropeway Syndicate - gravity powered, running from the Quarry to the road on Stubthwaite Moss - bicable system. Note: more details within this reference.
31. 'The Mine Explorer : The Journal of the Cumbria Amenity Trust - Vol.II', 1986 p.59; Erected by Whites of Widness.
32. 'The Mine Explorer : The Journal of the Cumbria Amenity Trust - Vol.II', 1986 p.??;
33. 'The Mine Explorer : The Journal of the Cumbria Amenity Trust - Vol.II', 1986 p.??;
34. 'The Mine Explorer : The Journal of the Cumbria Amenity Trust - Vol.II', 1986 p.??;
35.
36.
37. 'Gypsum in Cumbria', Ian Tyler, 2000 p.169-170; Also known as the Boazman Mine. Supplied by Main Ropeways, London, and commissioned May 1926. Mono cable type. Ran 2 miles to McGhies mill at Kirkby Thore, on 10 steel pylons, 20 ft high. Bucket capacity 3/4ton. Assumed dismantled on mine closure, 1937. Aerial flight winding house still stands, circa NY 619 278. p.254; map
38. 'Gypsum in Cumbria', Ian Tyler, 2000 p.231; Supplied by messers Whites, installed 1937 between mine and Kirkby Thore mill. Rated 20 tons per hour. Still working 1955. p.224; Photos
39. 'Gypsum in Cumbria', Ian Tyler, 2000 p.231; Supplied by messers Whites, installed 1937 between mine and Kirkby Thore mill. Rated 20 tons per hour. Still working 1955. p.224; Photos
40. 'Horden Collieries Ltd. Information Book', 1929, An Aerial Ropeway, as at Horden, delivers the refuse into the sea.
41. Colliery Engineering, November 1930, 'A Novel Colliery Ropeway'
Ran between Longframlington Colliery, at NGR NU 1305 0215, to the screens at Whittle Pit, at NGR NU 176 063.
42. Photographs - by Phil Jenkins : 'Cwm - Marine Colliery, top of aerial ropeway at SO 181043, April 2009' [Remains of pylon.] http://philjenkins.fotopic.net/p57401243.html http://philjenkins.fotopic.net/p57401262.html 'Cwm - Marine Colliery, middle of aerial ropeway at SO 185041, April 2009' [Foundations.] http://philjenkins.fotopic.net/p57401249.html
Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 First Series Map : 'Cardiff & Newport', Sheet 171 1974 Shown (as a dashed line) running between colliery at NGR SO 189 039 and return stanchion at NGR SO 180 044.
43. Photographs - by Phil Jenkins : 'Llanhilleth - Colliery aerial ropeway to Trinant tip, April 2009' [Foundations.] http://philjenkins.fotopic.net/p57639438.html http://philjenkins.fotopic.net/p57639442.html
Tips at circa NGR ST 214 999
44. Photograph http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/attachments/aerial.jpg
45. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : 'Wensleydale', Sheet 90 1955 Shown running between quarry and siding at Giggleswick Station, NGR SD 804 630. 'Limestone Industries of the Yorkshire Dales', D.Johnson, 2002 pp.139-140; (inc. 2off photos.) Commissioned 1922. Rated for 30 tons per hour, and initialy steam powered, but electricity used in later years. Bicable arrangement, on steel towers. Supported 40 tubs in total, ferrying 10cwt of lime out, and coal in to fuel the kilns. Supplied by R. White and Sons of Widnes. Ceased working and dismantled 1960's.
46. 'Life and Work of the Northern Lead Miner', A. Raistrick & A. Roberts, 1990 p.89, pl.155; Photo : "Boltsburn. The Weardale Lead Company built an aerial flight to take fluorspar from Boltsburn Washings to the North Eastern Railway at Eastgate. This picture shows the loading station for the flight." 16579 [It actually shows a bicable ropeway, that appears to have a single supporting rope, and the hauling outgoing/return rope. That running to Eastgate was a monocable design. The photo actually shows the aerial flight running up the waste tips.] p.89, pl.156; Photo : "Eastgate, Weardale. The terminal of the aerial flight from Boltsburn, [mine], showing a railway waggon being loaded. The sloping structure on the left is the cable tensioner. The flight was designed by Alvin Hill." 16822 [This is a mono cable ropeway, hence the substantial tensioning station. The buckets, and unloading station are also clearly monocable design.]
'Rookhope's Landscape Legacy', Peter Bowes & Thomas Wall, NPHT, 1995 p.18; "When the Lintzgarth smelt-mill closed (1919) and the Bolts Law railway closed (1923), Boltsburn Washing had to find both a new smelter and a new transportation route. Yet more ingenuity resulted in a 3-mile aerial flight to the main Weardale railway line near Eastgate. Thus, galena to Tyneside for smelting and increasing amounts of fluorspar to Teesside were carried out while coal came by return. The system ended in 1947 when lorry transport took over."
47. 'Life and Work of the Northern Lead Miner', A. Raistrick & A. Roberts, 1990 pp.40, pl.58, Photo : 'Wellhope Shaft, Nenthead.' 'An aerial flight took the bouse to the New Mill at Nenthead.' pp.41, pl.60, Photo : 'The Wellhope Shaft was abandoned.... The aerial flight had unfortunately been the subject of repeated troubles.'
Ordnance Survey Six Inch 1:10560, 1953-57 Shown running from shaft on Wellhope Moor at NGR NY 778 466 to mill in Nenthead at NGR NY 779 438
48. 'Minerals of the English Lake District Caldbeck Fells', M Cooper & CJ Stanley, 1990 p.52; photo p.53; Monocable system, 1.1km long, running from the mine to Nether Row. Mine closed 1966.
'The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide', I. Tyler, 2006 p.119; NY 324 378, terminus of aerial flight. p.132 Foundations for pylon at NY 324 374.
Ordnance Survey One-Inch Tourist Map : Lake District, 1966 Shown running between mine and terminal at Nether Row
49. 'Guisborough District Mines', Simon Chapman, 2001 p.70; installed 1929 at a cost of £7,731, to dump shale waste from picking belts into Cass Rock Quarry, p.73; Photo shows it to be a bicable arrangement. p.78; Dismantled 1933-34, after approx. one years use and moved to Upton Colliery, which was also owned by Dorman Long & Co. Ltd. p.78; A plan to install a ropeway between this mine and North Skelton Mine didn't materialise.
'Catalogue of Cleveland Ironstone Mines', Peter Tuffs, 1996 p.38; approx. one mile long, and rose 350ft up the escarpment p.39; Remains of the ropeway can still be found at Cass Rock Quarry.
50. 'Guisborough District Mines', Simon Chapman, 2001 p.78; Bicable type. Moved from Spawood Mine, which was also owned by Dorman Long & Co. Ltd.
51. 'Catalogue of Cleveland Ironstone Mines', Peter Tuffs, 1996 p.16; Likely closed 1923. Bicable type.
52. 'Catalogue of Cleveland Ironstone Mines', Peter Tuffs, 1996 p.22; 'Liverton Mine "One of the Poor Mines"', Simon Chapman, 1997 p.6; Plan of mine site 1987 shows location of aerial ropeway loading point and tensioning point. p.58; Purchased from Ropeways Ltd., for £705 p.59; Final cost {assumed including installation } £2,050-18-0d.
53. 'Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire - Vol.3', J.I.C. Boyd, 1986 p.175; 'Incline later replaced by aerial ropeway' indicated on plan entitled 'Willoughby Mine Tramway' - ropeway descended the hill and fed directly into the 'Klondyke' mill.
54. 'Narrow Gauge Railways in North Caernarvonshire - Vol.1, The West', J.I.C. Boyd, 1981 p.265; 'Incline later replaced by aerial ropeway' indicated on plan entitled 'Willoughby Mine Tramway' - ropeway descended the hill and fed directly into the 'Klondyke' mill.
55.
56. 'Stone Quarry Landscapes…', Peter Stanier, 2000 pl.27, p.78 (between pages 96 & 97); Shows fallen 'pylon' - cable support tower. 'Slate from Honister', Alastair Cameron, 1998 p.84; Plan indicating ropeway from incline drum to higher quarries, installed 1926
57. 'Stone Quarry Landscapes…', Peter Stanier, 2000 p.145; '... so a three and a half mile aerial ropeway from Magpie Hill was opened in February 1909, constructed on pylons to six stone storage bins (capacity 1,500 tons) at Detton Halt. Designed by J.M. Henderson of Aberdeen, it was worked by a seven-mile 3 1/2 in wire rope with a 30hp engine at Whatsill. The 256 buckets held half ton each. A secondary ropeway of about 230 yards from the driving station allowed empty skips to be sent into the quarry, then taken on rails to be filled.'
58.
59. 'The Red Hills', D. Kelly, 1994 p.168; Plan. p.111; Beckermet Mining Company, taken over by the United Steel Company in 1920. Haile Moor shaft sunk 1939 p.113; Photo - shows bicable type p.112; Caption to photo; 'Aerial ropeway: the ropeway constructed by the British Ropeway Engineering Company Ltd. to convey [iron] ore from the Haile Moor Pit to Beckermet No.1. It could handle eighty tons of ore per hour.'
BRECO Possibly BRECo. Ref. BM405 (perhaps 'BM' represents Beckermet Mining ?) - stated as being 80 tons per hour, although credited to the Workington Iron & Steel Co.
OS Outdoor Leisure No.6 1994 Haile Pit ironstone mine shown as 'Mine (dis)'
60. 'The Red Hills', D. Kelly, 1994 p.148; Plan. p.59; Connected mine to rail link at Holebeck No.7 Pit. Ceased work 1913. Pit reopened until 1923, not known if ropeway was still operational at that time.
OS Outdoor Leisure No.6 1994
61.
62. 'The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide', I. Tyler, 2006 p.125; Ran from umber/china clay mine at NY 311 346. Terminated at umber mill at NY 304 346.
'Mines of the Lake District Fells' John Adams, 1988, Dalesman Books (Lancaster, Lancashire), ISBN 0 85206 931 6
'Minerals of the English Lake District Caldbeck Fells', M Cooper & CJ Stanley, 1990 p.48; 'The raw umber was brought from the mine by an 'overhead tramway' (Addison, 1899-1890).'
'Minutes of Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers', Vol.102, 'Description of the Cleator Iron Company's barytes and umber mines and refining mill in the Caldbeck Fells', Addison, P.L. (1889-1890),283-291. The mine was closed 1884-1885.
63.
64. BRECO BRECo Ref. B22, Customer; Long Fell Barytes Ltd., monocable type, 10 tons per hour. Ran between mine and works.
65. BRECO BRECo Ref. G57, Customer; Geevor Tin Mines Ltd., monocable type, 22 tons per hour.
'Exploring Cornish Mines, Volume 3', K.Brown & R.Acton 1997, p.147; Photograph (1932) which includes '..the aerial ropeway taking the ore from Wethered Shaft to the mill'. Stanchions appear to be timber. p.142; Installed 1919
66. 'The Engineering Times' Vol.1 No.5, 1899, April-May p.289; fig.1 p.291; fig.2 & p.293 fig.4; Monocable design, supplied by Messrs. Bullivant and Co., Limited. p.290; 1.5 miles long, 200 tons per ten hour day
67.
68. 'The Engineering Times' Vol.1 No.5, 1899, April-May, "Otto" Ropeways, by R.E. Commans p.327; fig.9 p.329; fig.11 & p.330; Installed prior to 1899, for transport of sacks, barrels and boxes of cube sugar from warehouse to a wharf side. Supplied by R.E. Commans. Bicable arrangement.
69. 'The Engineering Times' Vol.1 No.5, 1899, April-May, "Otto" Ropeways, by R.E. Commans p.330; Installed prior to 1899, for transport of alkali etc. from lighters to the works at Port Sunlight. Supplied by R.E. Commans. Bicable arrangement.
70. Personal communication J Ratcliffe 10.10.2008 Ropeway ran from quarry SS 974 795 to siding on GWR circa SS 948 803. The bases of the pylons, at the quarry end (at least) can still be found.
71. South Wales Coalfield Collection; PHO/COL/30 'Photograph of a view of Comrie Colliery workings from the pithead gear, showing empty trucks waiting to be loaded. Includes a view of the aerial ropeway which conveys all debris to deep depressions away from the pit'
'Scottish Collieries', Miles A Oglethorpe, RCAHMS, 2006, HMSO pp.141-142, Fig. 5.80; Shows view of colliery from top of a stanchion. Evidently bicable type p.269; Indicates duty was colliery waste.
72. 'The Locomotives at Betchworth Line Works in Southern England', A. S. Travis, 2004, Vol.30 No.2 IA, The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archaeology' p. ??; 'During 1900-01, an aerial ropeway was installed by the Ropeways Syndicate Ltd., to transport limestone to a gantry placed above the Dietzsch kilns. Though this operation ceased by 1910, the gantry is one of the most prominent surviving features (as of May 2005) of the former quarry workings.'
73. 'The Gold Mines of Merioneth', G.W. Hall, 2nd Edn. p.44 & p.89; Photographs show unmilled timber construction used for stanchions, and monocable design. Working circa 1900. Connected Ty'n-y-Cornel Level with mill at Vigra Bridge.
'The Gold Mines of Merioneth', G.W. Hall, 1st Edn. p.79; Erected 1898.
'Goldmining in Western Merioneth', T.A. Morrision, JMHRSoc, Vol.VII, Pt.2, 1974 pp. 163 & 166; 'Until the Llechfraith adit connected with the main workings ore was transported by aerial ropeway from the mouth of Level Fawr down to the mill at Vigra Bridge...'. Buckets were 6 cwt. capacity. 'The ropeway built by Ropeways Syndicate, on J.P. Roe's patent. Owing to the 210 ft. fall between the adit and mill, the ropeway was self-acting, its speed being regulated (p.166) by paddles churning a tank of water. It was 1,100 yd. long and supported on eleven trestles. The buckets, hung on 7/8 in.steel wire rope, travelled at 120yd./min. and carried 24 tons/hr.' 'Mining stopped in 1911 and the plant was sold in 1914.'
74. 'Handbook NW; North Wales; Amendments Nos. 1 to 3', Industrial Railway Society p.49; 'In 1902 a wire ropeway was erected by Bullivant & Co., Millwall, London, to carry coal from wharf on the (canalised) river Dee to the works.
75. Ordnance Survey 1:25,000, sheet SS_89_99, 1976 Shown running between loading station at SS 8985 9320 and return station at SS 892 926.
'Industrial Railways in Colour - South Wales : 2', M. Poulter, 2006 p.4; Upper pylons of ropeway can be seen rising over the shoulder of Darren Fawr.
76. 'The Dalmellington Iron Company - Its Engines and Men', David L. Smith, 1967 p.102; 'Overhead Ropeways : (1) Bogton mine to Burnton Washer. 1 mile. 1930-50.'
BRECO BRECO Ref. DD.206, monocable type, 45 tons of coal per hour.
Photograph available in the collection of the 'Future Museum' - South West Scotland. http://futuremuseum.co.uk/images/cache/Img852S1000.jpg
Ordnance Survey, One-Inch Map, Sheet 67, 1955. Shown (as a dashed line) running between colliery (not named), NGR NS 475 058 and siding/washery at Burnton, NGR NS 476 072.
77. 'The Dalmellington Iron Company - Its Engines and Men', David L. Smith, 1967. p.102; 'Overhead Ropeways : (2) Bing at old Burnfoot No.11 pit to loading point on line to Houldsworth. 1.1 miles. In use 1940-50s.'
78. 'Aerial or Wire Ropeways', A.J. Wallis-Tayler, 1852 pp.119-120; Monocable, designed by Messrs Bullivant & Co. Ltd. running from the quarry to the crushers. 3,500 foot long, 25 tons per hour, each bucket holding 5 cwt. Steel trestles and terminal frames. Longest span 775 feet. Driven by Tangye engine.
79. 'Scottish Collieries', Miles A Oglethorpe, RCAHMS, 2006, HMSO pp.148-149; Fig. 5.93 taken circa 1947 shows view of the colliery with ropeway in foreground. Evidently bicable type.
80.
81. 'Cwm Gwyrfai', A.J. Richards p.108; Also known as Clogwyn Y Gwyn. Ropeway ran from quarry to siding on Welsh Highland Railway. Installed and operated circa 1920's by Richard 'Gladstone' Roberts. Assumed gravity 'powered'
'Slate Quarry Gazetteer' A.J. Richards, 1st Ed'n, p.91
'Slate Quarry Gazetteer' A.J. Richards, 2nd Ed'n, p.122
'Melin 21 - Journal of the Welsh Mills Society', Brian Malaws (Ed') pp.68-84; 'Water Power in the Gwynedd Slate Industry', David Gwyn, p.73; '... installed a further wheel as late as 1934 to operate a ropeway system' p.75; fig.5, Photo : 'A ramshackle system in its last days: the wheel (left) and the ropeway system (right) at Rhos Quarry, Capel Curig. Gwynedd Archives Services'
82.
83.
84.
85. 'Mining in Shropshire', Adrian Pearce (Ed.), 1995, SCC. p.83; Photo of ropeway from Bog Mine to smelter at Minsterley. Stanchion constructed from unsawn timber. Monocable type ropeway.
86. 'Iron Ore Mining in Caernarfonshire', J.S. Wilkinson, British Mining No.78 - Memoirs 2005, pp. 68-117 p. 99; Based on Figure 3, ropeway ran from crusher (SH 542 576) to ore bins (SH 5400 5745) p.100; Ropeway 280 yards long, capable of handling 20 tons per hour. p.103; Report 1909 promoting mine suggested by DJ Williams transport via ropeway to L&NWR in Nantlle. In 1912 it was planned to carry calcined ore to a hopper by aerial ropeway and then by rail to Dinas Junction. It appears that neither of these latter two schemes were implemented. p.104; Mine closed by 1919, and list of plant remaining provided by W Bowden Jones, but no mention of ropeway. Ref. 67 GAS (Gwynedd Archive Service) XD35/228.
87. 'Iron Ore Mining in Caernarfonshire', J.S. Wilkinson, British Mining No.78 - Memoirs 2005, pp. 68-117 p. 109; Supplied (and installed ?) by Ropeways Ltd., in 1907 for Sir Alfred Hickman Ltd., 5,000 yards long and rated at 40 tons/hr. Ref. 79 Catalogue of Messrs. Ropeways Ltd. per J.L.H. Bate Esq. Ran from 800ft ASL at Waenfawr, (NGR SH 542 576) reaching 1,250ft at Bwlch y Groes, to reach a siding on L&NWR at 900ft ASL. Ropeway ran from crushed ore bins to Llanberis at 133 buckets per hour. Ref. 80 GAS (Gwynedd Archive Service) XM/623/328 Mine closed 1913 A direct route would have incurred excessive costs due to the number of private wayleaves, so a less direct route over Crown land was taken, being less direct this implies the use of angle stations. p.111; plate 6. is captioned as being a pylon base, but looks more likely to be that of an angle station.
88. 'Iron Ore Mining in Caernarfonshire', J.S. Wilkinson, British Mining No.78 - Memoirs 2005, pp. 68-117 p.73; Circa. 1920, proposed to install an aerial ropeway to a siding at Aber Station on the main Chester to Holyhead railway line. A 'Roe's' ropeway from 'Ropeways Ltd' subsequently installed at a cost of £11,215. Presumed self acting, 1,200 yards in length, with a capacity of 150 tons/hour.
89. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : 'Penrith', Sheet 83, 1964 Shown running between mill at NY 673 278 and railway at Long Marton, NGR NY 667 246
'The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide', I. Tyler, 2006
90. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : Sheet 88, 1947 Shown running between quarry at NGR SD 112 944 and siding on railway (approx. 1 mile south of Eskmeals Stn.) at NGR SD 0885 9280.
'Mines and Mining in the English Lake District', Postlethwaite, 1913, 3rd Edn p.157; 'The company has efficient machinery, consisting of... and Aerial Ropeway, the motive power being suction gas'.
91. 'Force Crag - The History of a Lakeland Mine', I. Tyler, 1990, Red Earth Publ. p.53; Supplied (and installed ?) circa 1940 by The British Aerial Ropeway Company Limited, of London. Cable 2.5" (presumed circumference) carried ~ 30 side-tipping buckets of 1/2 ton capacity. Ran from High Force workings to mill, 740ft of descent, distance ~1,600 yards. It was planned to extend the ropeway (carrying, one assumes, dressed baryte) to Braithwaite Railway Station, but this was never implemented. p.54; Ropeway had cost the owners (Tampimex Ltd. ) some £10,000 to install. Dismantled and scrapped after 1947 p.57; Photo of pylon and cables - evidently of monocable design. p.60; Photo of loading station at High Force workings.
92. 'The Earl Fitzwilliam's Elsecar Colliery in the 1850's', John Goodchild, British Mining No.78 - Memoirs 2005 p.21; Aerial Ropeway built 1916, by Simon Carves.
93. 'Mining in Shropshire', Adrian Pearce (Ed.), 1995, SCC. p.63; Photo : 'Aerial cableway at Highley pit'. Ropeway is bicable type, and shows bottom opening buckets. Pit closed Nov. 1968.
94. 'Mining in Shropshire', Adrian Pearce (Ed.), 1995, SCC. p.65; States that bridge across the River Severn (linking the colliery with the screening plant) has bases of the ropeway pylons remaining at each end.
'The East Shropshire Coalfields', Ivor J. Brown, 1999 p.120; Photo : 'Alveley Mine's aerial ropeway, 1967. The two parts of the mine, Alveley, with its production shaft, and old Highley Mine, on the opposite side of the river, with its coal preparation plant and railway siding, were joined by both bridge and, after 1960, an aerial ropeway. The ropeway carried the mineral in buckets and, on the Highley side, had a right-angled bend so that the buckets then travelled a short distance parallel to the river to the coal preparation plant.'
95.
96. 'Welsh Mines Society', Newsletter No.53, Winter 2005, Item 55 Remains of stanchion were evident in Jan 2006.
97. Personal communication, John Price, 6 Oct 2006 "Are you aware of the aerial ropeway used by Stewarts and Lloyds Mines, I think, to transport iron ore from the quarries to the west of the A6 between Desborough and Rothwell in Northamptonshire ? The destination was the mineral line railhead at Great Oakley just south of Corby where the main steelworks were. I can remember it working in the 60s and it is shown on OS 141, 1974 rev."
'The Industrial Railway Record', No.2, July 1963 pp.31-36; 'Ironstone Tramways of the Midlands' - Includes a detailed description of the ropeway. http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/2/ironstone_tramways.htm
Ordnance Survey, 25-Inch Map (1:2,500), Northants Sheet xxx, 1964 & 1969-70 Shown running from loading station at Rothwell Hill Quarry, NGR SP 803 816, to railhead at Great Oakley, NGR SP 876 857.
98. 'A Prototype Aerial Ropeway at Hebden', Dickinson John M., British Mining No. 1 - Memoirs 1975, pp. 11-16
99. Personal communication, Derek Pratt, 23 Feb 2007 http://www.hampshirebuildings.org.uk
100. 'Welsh Mines Society', Newsletter No.59, Autumn 2008, Item 9 Ironwork noted during June meet.
101. 'Dwr Cymru Tunnel at Blaenrhondda', Gareth D.Evans, Industrial Railway Record, No.199, December 2009, p.447 'According to Industrial Locomotives of Mid and South Glamorgan by Geoffrey Hill (IRS, 2007), materials were moved to the site by an aerial ropeway from a railhead to the north at Hirwaun Pond on the Vale of Neath line.
102. 'Forest of Wyre Coalfield', David Poyner, Andrew Santer & Robert Evans, SCMC Journal No.5 http://shropshiremines.org.uk/misc/forestofwyre_coalfield.htm
103. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Glamorgan Sheet xxx, 1938 Shown running between colliery at NGR ST 081 943 and return stanchion at NGR ST 092 934
104. Dumfries & Galloway: Gazetteer and places of interest Morriton [sic.] Quarry: Aerial bucket ropeway was built in 1910 to connect the quarry face to waiting wagons in the former Stepford railway siding. [To the north east.] http://www.cast.org.uk/D-J.htm
105. Flora Celtica - Uses of Diatoms 'In the late 1930s,... The Diatomite was carried from Loch Valerain by aerial ropeway to Staffin bay,...' http://193.62.154.38/celtica/Diatoms2b.htm
106. 'The Limestones of Scotland' Geological Survey of Great Britain, 1st Edn. 1949, 2nd imp. 1976. p.91; '(d) 1,000 yds. N.E. of Shielingmoss. A quarry, known as Dormont Quarry, has been opened in one of the limestones on the Scots bank of the river above the Cat Linns. The quarried stone is conveyed by ropeway to kilns on the English bank.'
107. 'Aerial Railway erected on the Lovat Estate, Inverness-shire', Gilbert Brown, Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society Volume: v.29-30 1915-1916 p.129; 'The wire ropeway at Farley, near Beauly, was erected by Lord Lovat in 1907, for the purpose of bringing manufactured timber from Farley Forest to a specially constructed siding near Beauly railway station.' p.130; powered '...partly by steam and partly by gravitation.' 'The ropeway between the top and lower terminal (Fig. 2) is about 1770 yards in length,...' [Much more detail, inc. photographic plates, within this article.]
108. Pleasley Colliery museum Website http://www.pleasley-colliery.org.uk/html/waste_.htm
109. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Northumberland Sheet xxx, 1926 Shown as 'Aerial Cable' running between quarry at NGR NU 256 198 and south pier head at NGR NU 259 200
Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map : New Popular Editon, Sheet 71, 1945 Ropeway not marked, but 'tower' marked at end of pier.
'The Industrial Archaeology of North-East England, Vol.1' Frank Atkinson, 1974, 1st Edn., David & Charles. p.90; Photo 'Craster: a shrunken port. The squat stone structure is the foundation of a tower carrying overhead stone loading gear. [i.e. aerial ropeway !] All stone shipments have ceased...'
'The Industrial Archaeology of North-East England, Vol.2' Frank Atkinson, 1974, 1st Edn., David & Charles. p.239; 'Port Facilities (71/NU 259 200). At the extremity of the harbour is the base of a stone-built tower. This tower once supported the end of a cable running from the whinstone quarry just inland. Along the cable-way stone was brought and stored in the tower. It was then shot into boats which had to come and go on the same tide.'
'The Times' 1913, 20th March. http://www.dmm.org.uk/articles/9120320.htm
Photos of stanchion and hoppers at : http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/006250.htm http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/006252.htm
110. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Derbyshire Sheet xxx, 1923-24 Shown as 'Aerial Cable' running between point next to cricket ground at NGR SK 269 623, (close to Darleydale railway station), and mine at NGR SK 258 623.
Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Derbyshire Sheet xxx, 1938-39 Shown as 'Aerial Cable', running as detailed above.
Ordnance Survey, 25-Inch Map (1:2,500), Derbyshire Sheet xxx, 1922 Shown as 'Aerial Cable', running as detailed above.
'The Engines at Mill Close Mine - 1920 to 1939', Peter Naylor, Bull. PDMHS, Vol.7, No.3, March 1979. p.167; 'Aerial ropeway: made by Bullivants, 3064 feet long, rope speed 450 feet per minutre. The ropeway conveyed 10-12 tons coal per hour "up", and 20 tons per hour of gravel "down". The rope was wound by a 1613 HP, [clearly a misprint] 110 Volt, DC motor by John Davis & Co., Derby.'
111. Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map, NPE : 'Teesdale', Sheet 88, 1957 Shown, as a dashed line, running between Heights Quarry at NGR NY 925 388, and railway, at NGR NY 933 381.
Ordnance Survey One-Inch Map, Seventh Series : 'Teesdale', Sheet 88, 1964 Shown, as a dashed line, running as detailed above.
112. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Durham Sheet xxx, 1951-59 Shown as dashed line running between point near colliery (unamed on map) at NGR NZ 071 243, and siding on Bishop Auckland - Barnard Castle railway at NGR NZ 087 235.
113. 'Archive Magazine', Issue 66, June 2010 p.29; Photograph '...Markham Colliery. Notice the Telfer ropeway to take spoil to the heap on the horizon'. It isn't technically a 'Telfer', but a bicable ropeway, with on-line tipping.
Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Map, First Series : 'Cardiff Newport', Sheet 171, 1974 Shown, as a dashed line, running between colliery at NGR SO 167 021 and return station at NGR SO 169 024. Note that the ropeway runs diagonally up the hillside, then turns through 170 degrees to run along the hill top.
114. 'A History of the Kent Coalfield', John Hilton, Jan 1986, 49pp. pp.37-38; Ropeway (first section between the colliery and East Langdon) opened October 12th 1929. Capable of moving 120 tons per hour. Bucket capacity 14.5 cwt.
A brief history of the mine : http://www.dover.gov.uk/kentcoal/exhibition/tilmanstone.asp
[More photos here] Currently off-line, but a return is promised soon.
115. 'Life and Work of the Northern Lead Miner', A. Raistrick & A. Roberts, 1990 p.53, pl.83; Photo : 'Boltsburn Dressing Floor.' 'Waste went to the tips by way of a railway incline and the aerial flight.' [Clearly shows pylons having a single arm for supporting cable.] p.89, pl.155; Photo : 'Boltsburn. The Weardale Lead Company built an aerial flight to take fluorspar from Boltsburn Washings to the North Eastern Railway at Eastgate. This picture shows the loading station for the flight.' 16579 [It actualy shows the middle part of the aerial flight for taking Fluorspar waste to the tips. It's a bicable ropeway, that appears to have a single supporting rope, and the hauling outgoing/return rope. That running to Eastgate was of monocable construction.] Appears to have ran from the washing at NGR NY 939 425 to tips at NY 937 424.
1920 : A group of men at Boltsburn loading station for the aerial ropeway. http://www.beamishcollections.com/collections/display.asp?ItemID=572 Photo shows a bicable hopper, so this, and the date, indicates that this is at 'the washing'
'Rookhope's Landscape Legacy', Peter Bowes & Thomas Wall, NPHT, 1995 p.15; Shows a perspective sketch of the Boltsburn Washing, c.1920, indicating an aerial ropeway running from the washing to the dumps behind (i.e to the west).
116. Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 Map, Fifeshire, Sheet ????, 1961-62. Shown, as a dashed line, running between colliery at NGR NT 2800 9716 to beginning of distribution mechanism at NGR NT 2778 9697.
119. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Lincoln, Sheet 37NE, 1946-50. Shown as a dotted line, complete with stanchion locations, (located at field boundaries, where possible), and marked as 'Ariel Cable' [sic.], running in a straight line between Nettleton Top ironstone mine at NGR TF 1106 9811, to the south west, passing (to the south of) 'New Farm', to a rail siding at NGR TF 0950 9726, south of Holton-le-Moor Station. Was replaced (circa ?) by a concrete road (shown on the current OS 1:25,000) running along the route of the ropeway.
Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Lincoln, Sheet 37NE, 1956 As shown on 1946-50 1:10,560 Map, but marked as 'Aerial Cable'.
Darmon, Chris, 'Down to Earth Issue 73 - Nov 2010', pp.8-10, 'Lower Cretaceous Ironstone Mining - a North Lincolnshire Enigma'.
120. Jackson, Paul, 'The History of a Unique South Wales Coking Plant', Coke Oven Managers Year Book, July 2006. Figure 1; Photograph 'A view of the plant in the 1920s' [Aerial ropeway shown running uphill to tips in the distance.]
121. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Lanarkshire, Sheet ??, 1957-58. Shown as a dotted line, complete with stanchion locations, and marked as 'Aerial Cable', running in a straight line between Ardenrigg No.6 Colliery at NGR NS 827 656, to a rail siding at NGR NS 804 672, at Stepends Brick works.
122. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Cheshire, Sheet ??, 1954. Shown as a dotted line, and marked as 'Aerial Ropeway (Disused)', running from Astbury ganister Quarry (marked as 'Quarry') at NGR SJ 8700 5949, via. an angle station at NGR SJ 864 592, to a rail siding at NGR SJ 8546 5983, on the North Staffordshire Railway.
Personal communication, David Kitching, 6 Sept 2010 The ropeway was apparently originally installed to serve a colliery further up the hill, and some time after its closure, the ropeway was redirected to the Ganister works. http://www.mowcop.info/htm/industry/limeworks.htm also states this redirection. This writer hasn't however been able to find evidence of a colliery further up the hill, in line of the ropeway. Once over the other side of Edge Hill/Congleton Edge, it would make more sense to run the ropeway in the opposite direction down to the Biddulph Valley Branch railway.
123. Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch Map (1:10,560), Staffordshire, Sheet ??, 1951. Shown as a dotted line, and marked as 'Aerial Cable', running from washery at Victoria Colliery at NGR SJ 878 553, across the Biddulph Valley Branch railway to the tips at NGR SJ 875 550.
______________________
Ropeway Notified by :
a. John Price [06.08.2006]
b. David Butchers [22.02.2006]
c. Michael Poulter [08.05.2005]
d. Mike Shaw [ ]
e. Jon Ratcliffe [10.10.2008]
f. Derek Pratt [23.02.2007]
g. Phil Jenkins [14(tbc).11.2009]
h. Roger Jermy [02.04.2010]
j. John Tremble [12.05.2010]
k. Phil Jenkins [??.May(?).2010]
l. David Kitching [01.08.2010]
m. David Kitching [06.09.2010]
n. Andy Hunter [13.11.2010]

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