On a day of changeable weather, twenty-two hardy souls turned out at Loftus to wander along the Miner’s Way and find out more about Loftus and its links with the former alum trade.
The group assemble outside Loftus Library just prior to 10:30 in steady rain and a stiff westerly breeze.
Typically, a few minutes after the first image (above) was taken, we entered St. Leonard's Churchyard in bright sunshine.
Peter Appleton holds forth on the Hunton family, Loftus Alum Makers whose graves grace the churchyard.
From the church we crossed the busy High Street and set off along North Street toward the coast.
Climbing the hill en-route to Hummersea. The concrete kerb before these houses uses spent alum shale as aggregate.
The group continuing north toward Hummersea.
On the east side of Warsett Hill approaching Hummersea Farm.
Still in sunshine we descend toward Humersea Farm.
The group standing near Hummersea Cottage - birthplace of Lewis Hunton, Loftus' lesser-known scientist.
View of Hummersea Cottage - Lewis Hunton's birthplace.
The group listens attentively as Beth relates the story of Lewis Hunton's brief life and the fundamental contributions he made to Geology.
A View of the footpath leading to Loftus Alum Quarry (the high part of the cliff in the background) east of Hummersea Farm.
Another view of the quarry from Hummersea.
The group head off toward Snailah.
Waymark on the Cleveland Way near Hummersea steps.
Beth addresses the group concerning a reservoir (Snailah Pond) which formerly served the water-intensive alum works on the beach below.
Speak up! - it's windy....
Back on the footpath and the climb to Gallihowe.
Crossing a stile en-route to Loftus Alum Quarry.
View looking west from the stile showing Hummersea in the foreground, Skinningrove Jetty in the midground and Huntcliff in the background.
We stop close to the quarry entrance for lunch in sunshine again.
As Beth speaks about the former quarry at the cliff top, rain approaches ominously across the sea.
At Arthur's Field we hear about the former quarrymen's cottages which once stood here.
We join the Whitby Road at Foul Syke and head back toward Loftus.
The walk ends at the Market Place (again) in bright sunshine.
We would like to thank all who attended this walk, including Peter Appleton for his contributions concerning the genealogy of the Hunton family. We hope you enjoyed the walk and look forward to seeing you at some of our future events.
Loftus – The Miner’s Way
On a day of changeable weather, twenty-two hardy souls turned out at Loftus to wander along the Miner’s Way and find out more about Loftus and its links with the former alum trade.
The group assemble outside Loftus Library just prior to 10:30 in steady rain and a stiff westerly breeze.
Typically, a few minutes after the first image (above) was taken, we entered St. Leonard's Churchyard in bright sunshine.
Peter Appleton holds forth on the Hunton family, Loftus Alum Makers whose graves grace the churchyard.
From the church we crossed the busy High Street and set off along North Street toward the coast.
Climbing the hill en-route to Hummersea. The concrete kerb before these houses uses spent alum shale as aggregate.
The group continuing north toward Hummersea.
On the east side of Warsett Hill approaching Hummersea Farm.
Still in sunshine we descend toward Humersea Farm.
The group standing near Hummersea Cottage - birthplace of Lewis Hunton, Loftus' lesser-known scientist.
View of Hummersea Cottage - Lewis Hunton's birthplace.
The group listens attentively as Beth relates the story of Lewis Hunton's brief life and the fundamental contributions he made to Geology.
A View of the footpath leading to Loftus Alum Quarry (the high part of the cliff in the background) east of Hummersea Farm.
Another view of the quarry from Hummersea.
The group head off toward Snailah.
Waymark on the Cleveland Way near Hummersea steps.
Beth addresses the group concerning a reservoir (Snailah Pond) which formerly served the water-intensive alum works on the beach below.
Speak up! - it's windy....
Back on the footpath and the climb to Gallihowe.
Crossing a stile en-route to Loftus Alum Quarry.
View looking west from the stile showing Hummersea in the foreground, Skinningrove Jetty in the midground and Huntcliff in the background.
We stop close to the quarry entrance for lunch in sunshine again.
As Beth speaks about the former quarry at the cliff top, rain approaches ominously across the sea.
At Arthur's Field we hear about the former quarrymen's cottages which once stood here.
We join the Whitby Road at Foul Syke and head back toward Loftus.
The walk ends at the Market Place (again) in bright sunshine.
We would like to thank all who attended this walk, including Peter Appleton for his contributions concerning the genealogy of the Hunton family. We hope you enjoyed the walk and look forward to seeing you at some of our future events.