The production of iron or steel never quite reached Malton – but the town was no stranger to the industry. Howard Campion reports.

THERE is always a demand for iron – and in North Yorkshire, particularly around the nearby Tees Valley, there has been a source of its valuable mineral ore. But production of iron or steel never quite reached Malton and Norton.

Malton was no stranger to the iron and steel industry, however.

Rosedale Chimney, until its demolition in 1972, could be seen from Hovingham Road as far as Fryton. And it was also visible from attics at the top of Wentworth Street.

Further towards Whitby, a blast furnace was built at Grosmont to process the iron ore that had been discovered when digging out the tunnel for the Malton and Whitby railway line.

Development further north continued and, until recently, limited iron and steel production continued in Teesside, with Redcar being the last furnace to cease production.

Generally, the mining and processing iron ore laid waste to its surroundings. And, fortunately, the Malton and Norton area was left untouched in this respect, unlike many areas around Cleveland and Teesside.

It seems that iron ore (ironstone) was discovered around the Derwent valley during the mid-1850s.

Read more from Howard Campion:

A 1906 newspaper article mentions the existence of a “12-foot-thick seam” and reported that a company (the Kirkham and Castle Howard Ironstone Company) was formed in 1867.

Apparently, they advertised 3,000 shares at £20 each in an attempt to flat their finances.

It is not known what became of this venture. It might have been that the only people making money were the East Riding Rating Authority, who, in February 1877, quoted that “mines at Westow and Kirkham had rental and rateable values of £600 and £540 respectively”.

On a map of the area from 1891, two mines/quarries can be seen on Henlow Lane in Westow – could these be part of the original ironstone workings mentioned previously?

The smaller limestone quarries in the area are largely ‘worked out’ (Wath Quarry being the last).

Their fate has often been as local rubbish dumps – and this might have even happened here.

Given this, however, old bottle collectors do find these sites quite productive!

  • Howard Campion is a trustee at the Malton and Norton Heritage Centre