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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (North Riding) => Topic started by: genjen on Thursday 01 May 08 22:45 BST (UK)
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Hi,
Someone with a better memory than mine will be able to answer this. If you walked on the Eston Hills in the 1950s, the remains of an old mining village was still very much in evidence. I remember it being on the direct route across the hills between Wilton and Guisborough but I could be wrong on this. Was this just known as Barnaby Moor or did the village have its own name. Or, and here's a very real possibility, have I just invented it?
Jen
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Hi Jen.
No you didn't invent it. Barnaby moor is still there!
Here's a good website, picture of the Nab and the old mine etc:
http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/slaggyisland/page22.phtml
Barbara :)
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I knew you would have the answer! So it was just called Barnaby Moor then - I could have sworn there was another name for the settlement. One sunny day ( ha!), this summer, I am going to go up there and revisit my childhood haunts.
Thanks,
Jen
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You'll have to cross the A174 Parkway now!
But as far as I remember when we used to walk up the hills from Normanby, to the Nab, then over the top - I thought that was Barnaby Moor - we came down again by the Cross Keys Pub on the Guisborough Road - so not as far over towards Wilton/Guisborough as you thought (I think!)
Barbara
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I think I could travel the Parkway with my eyes closed at the moment. I have been going back and forth from Kendal to Lazenby at least once a week, visiting my mother, who is eighty two and extremely ill.
Last week she was moved to the Stead Hospital in Redcar, which means that I now have school bus memories to add to my journey.
Jen
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Sorry to hear about your mother, hope the Stead staff are taking good care of her. I know the feeling, our car used to know its way along the Parkway & back for the same reason, though I didn't have anything like as far to travel as you. :-\
Maps of Eston Moor, Barnaby old mine etc here
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03c9/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03ca/
Barbara :)
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Thanks for the links. I have just done some more hunting and think I have answered my own question. The settlement I am thinking of was known as Pit-Top and is included in Craig Hornby's guided walk across the Eston Hills.
I'm still going to go and look for myself as soon as possible.
Cheers,
Jen
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Thanks for the links. I have just done some more hunting and think I have answered my own question. The settlement I am thinking of was known as Pit-Top and is included in Craig Hornby's guided walk across the Eston Hills.
I'm still going to go and look for myself as soon as possible.
Cheers,
Jen
Hi Jen,
You have answered your own question, :)
The pit was Upsall Pit.
Maybe best approached from the Cross Keys pub ? There is a footpath.
Not as steep as the Eston side and perhaps nearer.
Also: -
http://vr3.tees.ac.uk/heritage/anim_eston1large.htm
Best regards George
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I always thought that's why the Cross Keys was there, George, to refresh the weary walker who'd come up over the moor from Eston way ;D ;D ;D
Barbara
p.s - good link! Have you seen Craig Hornby's film 'A Century in Stone'?
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I have seen the film and thought it was wonderful - I posted something on here about it, ages ago, because I believe everyone from the area should have it as compulsory viewing!
I look forward to the walk and the pint in the Cross Keys afterwards!
Ta,
Jen
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Hi Barbara,
I have seen a video of ironstone mining made some years ago , but not Craig Hornby's production.
I have always been interested in Cleveland history, having being born there and left just 6 years ago. :)
Artists impression here of pit top: -
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03dd/
George
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Hi George,
It's a very good dvd, well worth watching
http://www.pancrack.tv/acis.html
Barbara
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My Gran lived in one of the houses at Barnaby Moor and I've just realised Pit Top was the same place. My Gran's family was "Gull", there were six children and my Gran, Lily, married a Joseph Muxlow and had my mother, Betty in 1924. Does anyone know more about the area of have family that lived up there?
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Family rumour has it that my great grandfather who was a Local Preacher, used to preach there. Was there a Methodist church there? It seems a very small community to have had one.
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Could he have been Benjamin Muxlow? Married to Mary A, parents of Ada, Janet and Elsie?? He was my Grand-father's cousin If so, you must see A Century in Stone.
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No, unfortunately that wasn't him Vicky. :(
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That's probably a blessing, as Benny was the Methodist Preacher/slaughterman, which was probably quite natural in those days, but give me the willies a bit!! Have you got the name of your grandfather and more or less the year he was born or lived up there?? There is a lady called Gwen Walden who is interviewed in the DVD. She's 84 but bright as a button and living in Eston. She was born up there in 1923 and they all left in 1938. I wouldn't post her number but I will call her for you.
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Roobarb, type in A Century in Stone, and click on the Ghost Town clip and you can even see the church where he would have preached. It's so well done, you can almost smell the cold and it makes us count our blessings.
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What a brilliant clip Vicky, thanks for that. I tried the library some time back to see if they had a copy of the film but apparently Craig won't allow the libraries to have it. Can't say I blame him!
It was my great grandfather who apparently preached there. It's a bit confusing, the story has it that he used to take my father with him. However, that's where it gets complicated! The great grandfather who I know for certain was a local preacher had died many years before my dad was born. The other one was Thomas Lickess, he'd previously lived in Middlesbrough and Marske but he lived in the High Street at Eston from at least 1923, so it's possible that he walked across the hills. He died in 1929 so the lady you refer to would have been very young at the time. I'd love to find out if the stories I've been told are true or if like so many family tales, things are lost as they're passed down the generations.
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Oh for goodness sake, treat yourself, it's a tenner and the guy's obviously worked his whatsits off to make it..... even I, (forager of the universe) have made the effort.. (no I cdn't down load it for free either...) This chap could have made a mark on our children's lives.... The introductory bit of that clip certainly made me feel proud of where I come from!
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I'm with Vicky on this, Roobarb....just go for it! ;) ;D
Personally, I think it should be compulsory viewing for anyone with a family history from the area. :)
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Yes, you're probably right! :)
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Hello,
I just came across this site and was intrigued in the comments.
My Dad, Jack(John Thomas) Taylor lived in one of the cottages near the mine and when he was 6 years old he ahd a paper route..which required him to go all the way down to Cross Keys and collect the papers from the Stage coach..(my Dad was born in 1919). At a later date he looked after the pit ponies and he could still remember their names right up to his passing. A Benjamin Muxlow was mentioned., My Dad's cousin married a Benjamin Muxlow..her name was Madge Woodward. I have very fond memories of walking the moor and exploring the ruins and Dad showed us which cottage he lived in, ofcourse all was left of it was a bit of the walls and the clay stone flooring.
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Hello Susan Simpson! :) Welcome to Rootschat!
Crikey - all the way to Cross Keys to pick up papers? We don't know we're born these days!
Do have a good look round the various forums to see if there's anything you can add to or ask about
Cheers
RuthieB (ex-Middlesbrough and in exile in the east Midlands)
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Interesting to see this thread being revived. Since I first posted, the area around the nab has been up for sale, threatened with development and bought by a determined group of local people ( including Craig Hornby), who are now trying to make sure that the hills are there for people to enjoy for ever and that the mining history is not lost. Sadly, there is an equally determined group of youngsters who are hell-bent on destroying the hills by fire.
The full story is available here: http://www.estonhills.info/
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Must admit that when I saw this thread again I thought it was going to be some comment about the fires. It makes me very sad that people can do this to such a beautiful and well appreciated area. Having said that, it's been going on for years (although admittedly not as bad as this) and the vegetation has always recovered well. :)
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I remember massive fires on the hills when I was a child but I don't think they were set maliciously. Sadly, the recent ones are, I am convinced, being started by youngsters who know that they will gain notoriety, publicity and possibly even street-cred amongst their peers, by their actions. The more upset the locals are, the more pleasure these misguided youths get!
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Hello Vicky. I am Bryan Hudson.grandson of Beatrice Johnson.grans cousins were Betty Rhoda Jessie..been searching the Norfolk side of the family.be nice to hear from you.Bryan
My mail Addy.
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Bryan, it looks like this hasn't been spotted yet but Rootschat doesn't allow personal email addresses to be shown on the forum. You have to post three or four times before you can send a Personal Message so if you could remove your email address I'll P.M. Vicky on your behalf. I hope she soon gets in touch with you. :)
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Hi Bryan, I've emailed you to thank you for the photo and just seen your post. I remember Auntie Beattie Johnson (Smith) fondly but was unsure what relation she was. My mum was Betty and my Gran, Lily Muxlow (nee Gull). Help me, I'm confused!!!
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My Grand father was a miner
and my uncle at the pit. My mother and sisters and brother lived and went to school at pit top.The family name was bell .My grandfather was killed in accident down the pit Mother was only three at the time. and was born in 1921.They lived there for a few more years until my uncle William Joseph Bell Left and joined the army. They then had to leave because they were tied houses. And came to west yorkshire which i believe my aunt Lucy found them lodgings in a mill town.My mother passed a few of her memories on to Craig Hornby of pancrake TV before she passed away who has done several articles and videos of Mining village /hamlet. Any information send a me a message