A newly donated photograph offers a fascinating glimpse inside Upleatham Mine, including details of the railway used beneath the ground. While we know where it was taken, the identities of the men pictured and the date of the photograph remain unknown.

A new addition to our collection

The photograph was recently donated to Land of Iron by Ian Bell, who discovered it in his grandmother’s loft. It has since been identified as showing a group of miners at Upleatham Mine.

Several details help us understand the setting. The narrow-gauge railway track visible beneath the men’s feet had a gauge of two feet and one inch, while the heavily worn roller in the foreground would have formed part of the mine’s working equipment.

On the original photograph, the words “WEST SIDE” can also just be made out, chalked onto the wall behind the man standing on the far left.

These small details help us place the photograph within the mine, but much of its story remains to be discovered.

Can you tell us more?

Do you recognise any of the men in this photograph?

Perhaps one of them was a relative, or you have seen another copy of the image carrying names or a date. You may also know more about the West Side workings or the equipment visible in the photograph.

If you can add anything to its story, however small, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Land of Iron or leave a comment when the photograph is shared through our social media pages.

Information supplied by local families and former mining communities can be invaluable. It helps us place photographs and objects in context, connect them with the people whose lives they represent, and preserve those stories for the future.

About Upleatham Mine

Upleatham Mine began working in 1851 and operated for more than 70 years. It became one of the largest and most productive ironstone mines in the Cleveland district.

The main ironstone seam was approximately 13 feet thick. During the mine’s lifetime, it employed hundreds of men and boys, with an average workforce of around 500 and an annual output of approximately 700,000 tonnes of ironstone.

The mine closed during the 1920s as the remaining ironstone became uneconomical to work. Today, traces of its industrial past can still be found in and around Errington Woods, including brick foundations, retaining walls and the remains of structures associated with the mine’s hauling engines.

Exploring Upleatham’s mining heritage

In August, Land of Iron led a guided heritage walk around the former Upleatham Mine. The walk explored its history, the people who worked there and the features that still survive in the landscape around Errington Woods.

We hope to offer further guided walks exploring East Cleveland’s ironstone heritage in the future. Please keep an eye on our website and social media pages for upcoming dates.

Donating to the Land of Iron collection

Land of Iron welcomes enquiries about photographs, documents, objects and other material connected with Cleveland’s ironstone industry and its communities.

Our Collections team works to record, catalogue, care for and preserve the items entrusted to the museum. The information accompanying an object can be just as important as the object itself, helping us understand who owned or used it, where it came from and the part it played in local life.

Where appropriate, items from the collection may also be used in exhibitions, research, events and online stories, helping us share and celebrate our area’s remarkable ironstone heritage.

If you have something that you believe may be of interest to the museum, please contact us before bringing it in. Our team will be happy to discuss it with you.

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We would like to thank Ian Bell for donating the photograph and helping to preserve it for future generations.
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Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.