Make your way across the beck and follow the Cleveland Way up the steep, stepped path and then eastwards where there is a view of the Old Gut dock (marked 1 on the plan). Pass the path down to the shore at NZ 725 198 and North Warren Cottage (Tile Sheds). (2 cisterns (2) are missed unless one deviates along the coastal path). At NZ 735 197 fork left off the Cleveland Way to go down the track in to the quarries.
The alum works was started in the mid-17th century and closed in about 1860. There was a major redevelopment about 1800 when a new alum house was constructed by Hummersea beach. The history and industrial archaeology of the alum works has received much attention in recent years and, in particular, there is the major survey by English Heritage (Hunt et al. 2004). The main sites are included in the mini-geotrail.
Boulby Quarry and the sea cliffs beneath (making use of the tracks down to the shore) are where several 19th century and, more recently, geologists such as Chowns made measured sections. That by Lewis Hunton (1836) is the most notable as he independently recognized the importance of collecting fossils in-situ, and relating the fossils found to the beds in which they occur bolstering the emerging concept of biostratigraphy.
Grid Reference NZ 631 146
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Brief Site Description Site 7 of 7. Disused alum quarry revealing exposures of Liassic Whitby mudstone and overlying Middle Jurassic Saltwick sandstone. Following abandonment after alum working, this quarry [...]
Grid Reference NZ 749 162
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland river cutting through deltaic sandstone revealing river-cliffs and waterfalls. Exposures include Saltwick sandstone, Dogger and Whitby mudstone formations
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
From footbridge and along stream bank
8
Safety of exposure
Slippery on [...]
Grid Reference NZ 643 145
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland river gorge revealing exposures of Saltwick sandstone with a beck cutting steeply through the profile
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along designated footpath
8
Safety of exposure
Steep-sided valley, overhangs in places
6
Restricting conditions
High-flow episodes
9
Multiple exposure
None
Note
It [...]
Grid Reference NZ 715 182
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS
Site Description
Site Status
Description of Geodiversity River cliff exposures of massive Saltwick sandstone forming cliffs and escarpments
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Descend to stream level via housing estate
8
Safety of exposure
Slippery bank, no footpath
5
Restricting conditions
High flow episodes
5
Multiple exposure
None
Note
It is [...]
Grid Reference NZ 622 148
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity North facing escarpment revealing few exposures. Underlying geology is Staithes sandstone, Cleveland ironstone, Whitby mudstone overlain by the Saltwick sandstone formation. Old mine tips now wooded
Literature References Guisborough District Mines – [...]
Grid Reference NZ 636 204
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Wooded erosional outlier revealing various exposures of Saltwick sandstone. Site also reveals workings from Jet mining and exposures of Cleveland ironstone
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along footpath
10
Safety of exposure
Some difficult exposures
5
Restricting conditions
None
Multiple [...]
Grid Reference NZ 653 152
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/03
Site Description
Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Disused quarry revealing exposures of Saltwick sandstone and the base of the overlying Eller Beck formation
Literature References
Site Map
Site Assessment
Access and Safety
Comments
Rating
Safety of access
Along footpath from Stanghow Ridge
10
Safety of exposure
Excellent viewing platform
10
Restricting conditions
None
Multiple exposure
None
Note
It is [...]