Peak Alum Works - National Trust

Peak Alum Works - National Trust Archeological remains of one of the many Alum Workings along this stretch of the coastline . The Peak Alum Works is a National Trust industrial heritage site.

The site was acquired by the National Trust in 1979 as part of its Enterprise Neptune Appeal to save the coastline. Clearing of the site since 1984 has revealed some of the most extensive remains of any alum works in Yorkshire. Important archaeological evidence has been recorded and stonemasons have stabilised the site structures.

Grinding wheel
05/10/2015

Grinding wheel

Artist impression of the proccess of extracting the Alum from the grey shale beds in the early 1600sThe extracted shale ...
20/07/2012

Artist impression of the proccess of extracting the Alum from the grey shale beds in the early 1600sThe extracted shale was not only dug out by men .but boys as young as 7 & 12 were at the shale seams using picks to dig out the shale. The shale was then barrowed and tipped onto huge brushwood fires known as Clamps. These clamps were burning continously from year after year. with the grey shale added they burnt it for nine months of the year. The shale (now a dark pink colour ) was washed to extract the Aluminium Sulphate. once this washing proccess finished they sent the liquid known as the raw liquor down to the main Alum House complex by gravitiy, in stone channels. At this stage the raw liquor underwent many procceses ( one of them involving STALE HUMAN URINE!!!!! :-@

More to Follow!!!!!!

Ariel photo of the Peak Alum Quarries,A huge scar in this beautiful landscape of Ravenscar.But even now nature fights ba...
20/07/2012

Ariel photo of the Peak Alum Quarries,
A huge scar in this beautiful landscape of Ravenscar.
But even now nature fights back to fill the void of mans impact.The house at the bottom of the picture was the former managers house of the Peak Alum works, the Alum house complex was situated below the house so as the manager had a clear view of the site. The House is now a very popular NT holiday cottage.

Alumworks situated between Robin Hoods Bay and Ravenscar. The house with the grey slate roof was the managers house to t...
19/07/2012

Alumworks situated between Robin Hoods Bay and Ravenscar. The house with the grey slate roof was the managers house to the Alum Works on the left. Also in the picture is the old pack horse barn situated inthe Alum works complex. This barn was a welcome resting place for the many pack horses that travelled up and down the causeway from the makeshift wooden harbours pulling carts filled with supplies for the Alum production (coal,burnt seaweed (potash) and stale human urine was used to make this valuble commodity called Alum Flour.

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Ravenscar
YO13ONE

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