11. Walking around Rosedale, Rosedale Abbey Village & Environs - old ironstone mine walks, Blakey Ridge, Lion Inn, old industrial railway track, old calcining kilns and the 'secluded' Northdale with its Andy Goldsworthy art installation called the 'Hanging Stones' project etc.!

[Author and photographer © Dr Phil Brown PhD plus help from AI these days, page updated May11th 2026]

Pictures of the North York Moors - ROSEDALE

Lastingham, Rosedale, Farndale, Hutton-le-Hole, Bransdale INDEX

The 'Hanging Stones' art project in Northdale by Andy Goldsworthy

See also 1. Lastingham, St Mary's Church

3. Hutton-le-Hole, Village and Ryedale Folk Museum

10. A circular walk from Hutton-le-Hole to Gillamoor and Douthwaite Dale

14. A circular walk from Lastingham via Spaunton and Hutton-le-Hole

* *

Part 1 General Views of Rosedale

Looking north-west from Rosedale Abbey along one of the many tracks through the valley of Rosedale.

A recommended stop if doing the Rosedale Circuit walk.

Drop down from the old railway track to the DALE HEAD FARM TEA ROOM

Dale Head Farm Tea Garden for a nice 'cafe' stop - great location and great refreshment - the cakes !!!!

There is a self-service facility in the winter.

Tranquil scene in the central part of Rosedale.

Looking north up Rosedale from one of the many footpaths that traverse it.

Looking north towards the head of Rosedale.

Rosedale in a nutshell !

Sheep picking from the patches of grass between the heather and bracken - its a hard life for them.

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Moody Rosedale!

Winter in Rosedale.

A third of the way down the picture you can see the outline of the embankment on which the track of the ironstone railway once lay.

Typical landscape scene in Rosedale

View of Rosedale from half-way up the Rosedale Chimney Road to Bank Top - telephoto shot below

View north-east across Rosedale from the old railway track.

Part 2 Rosedale Abbey Village

Rosedale Abbey quietly welcomes you.

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Some typical stone cottages and houses in Rosedale Abbey

Once the Milburn Arms, future?

Graze on the Green Tearoom & Tea Garden in Rosedale Abbey village

Abbey Stores and Tearoom in Rosedale Abbey village

The village green in Rosedale Abbey

The Coach House Inn pub and restaurant in Rosedale Abbey village

Just behind the 'green' in Rosedale Abbey village is an interesting garden containing a variety of sculptures in a most pleasant setting by the stream.

The graveyard of Rosedale Abbey church.

On the left is St Lawrence's Church. On the right, in front of the county primary school, built in 1822, is the remains of a turret staircase from the old Abbey (actually a Nun's Priory), the school is built of stone from the abbey. The turret staircase is all that is left of the great medieval abbey-priory! Rosedale Abbey was a Cistercian nunnery, founded in 1158.

Don't forget to call in at St Lawrence's Church, Rosedale Abbey with traces of its medieval origins still visible. PLEASE leave a donation, even if its just buying the excellent little guide sheet to the church and help maintain this ancient and still working church. This was built as the Parish Church of St Mary and St Lawrence on the foundations of the priory chapel. However, the medieval church or priory chapel, was pulled down in 1839 and a larger church built on the same site.

An old stone seat from the medieval abbey (the 'bishop's chair') and the east stained glass window.

? on the side of the church.

Glass blowing at the glass workshop of Gillies Jones from Rosedale Glass, Rosedale Abbey, North Yorkshire, England

Examples of the stunning glass works of Gillies Jones from Rosedale Glass, Rosedale Abbey, North Yorkshire, England

All about Rosedale Abbey Village

Here is a full, richly detailed, heritage‑focused account of Rosedale Abbey — its history, the “abbey” that never was, the ironstone boom, the church, and everything useful for visitors today (cafés, walks, viewpoints, and practicalities).

Written in a layered, structured style you prefer, integrating landscape, archaeology, architecture, and tourism.

Rosedale Abbey: A Complete History & Visitor Guide

Rosedale Abbey is one of the most fascinating villages in the North York Moors: a place where medieval monastic farming, Victorian industrial mining, and modern tourism all leave visible traces in the landscape.

1. Early & Medieval History

The Cistercian Priory (1150s–1530s)

Despite the name “Rosedale Abbey”, the site was never an abbey.
It was a small Cistercian nunnery, founded in the mid‑12th century, probably by the de Ros family.

What we know:

• It housed 8–12 nuns, making it one of the smallest religious houses in Yorkshire.

• The nuns farmed sheep, managed granges, and controlled large areas of the dale.

• The priory was dissolved in 1536 under Henry VIII.

What survives:

• One 13th‑century turret (the “Priory Tower”), now standing alone in the churchyard.

• Carved stone fragments reused in later buildings.

• Earthworks of the priory precinct around the church.

The turret is one of the most atmospheric medieval survivals in the Moors — a reminder of a vanished monastic world.

2. The Ironstone Boom (1850s–1920s)

Rosedale’s quiet agricultural life changed dramatically in the mid‑19th century when ironstone was discovered in the hills above the dale.

Key developments:

• 1856: First commercial mining begins.

• 1860s–1870s: Rosedale becomes one of the largest ironstone producers in Britain.

• Population explodes from a few hundred to over 3,000.

• Rosedale Railway (a spectacular moorland line) is built to carry ore to Teesside.

• Kilns, calcining banks, and workers’ villages appear on the moor tops.

What remains today:

• The East Mines calcining kilns (huge, dramatic ruins).

• The Rosedale Railway trackbed, now a superb walking route.

• Abandoned cottages and industrial archaeology on the moorland edge.

This industrial phase is one of the most important in the history of the North York Moors.

3. The Modern Village

After the mines closed (1920s), the population shrank and the dale returned to farming and tourism.
Today Rosedale Abbey is a peaceful, attractive village with stone cottages, a green, and a strong sense of place.

4. St Mary & St Lawrence Church

The parish church stands on the site of the medieval nunnery.

Architecture:

• Rebuilt 1839 in a simple Gothic style.

• 13th‑century priory turret stands beside it — the most important historic feature.

• Interior contains:

  • Medieval carved stones

  • A 19th‑century font

  • Memorials to local farming families

  • Traces of earlier monastic masonry

The churchyard is one of the most atmospheric in the Moors, with the turret rising above the graves.

5. Cafés, Pubs & Visitor Amenities

Rosedale Abbey has several excellent places to eat and relax — ideal for walkers and cyclists.

Cafés

• Graze on the Green

  • Very popular; homemade cakes, lunches, teas

  • Outdoor seating overlooking the village green

• Abbey Stores & Tea Room

  • Traditional village shop with café service

  • Good for snacks, ice creams, and light meals

Pubs / Restaurants

• The Coach House Inn

  • Main pub in the village

  • Food, drinks, accommodation

  • Friendly, traditional atmosphere

• The White Horse Farm Inn (on the hill above the village)

  • Stunning views over the dale

  • Restaurant and bar

  • Excellent sunset spot

Accommodation

• Several B&Bs, holiday cottages, and small campsites

• Caravan site near the village centre

6. Walks & Landscape Highlights

Rosedale is one of the best walking bases in the Moors.

Short Walks

• Priory & Village Loop (1 mile)

• River Dove Meadows (easy, flat)

Medium Walks

• Rosedale Railway Trackbed (5–8 miles)

• Ana Cross & Spaunton Moor (classic moorland circuit)

Long Walks

• Rosedale Chimney → Bank Top → East Mines (10 miles)

• Rosedale to Lastingham (via Ana Cross)

Key viewpoints

• Bank Top (overlooking the kilns)

• Chimney Bank (infamously steep road; superb views)

• Ana Cross (ancient moorland boundary cross)

7. Local Attractions & Heritage

• Rosedale Glass Studio — local crafts

• Rosedale History Society — exhibitions in the village

• Industrial archaeology — kilns, tramways, mine remains

• Wildlife — curlew, lapwing, red grouse, roe deer

• Heather moorland — spectacular in August

⭐ Why Rosedale Abbey Is Special

• A medieval monastic site with a rare surviving turret

• A Victorian industrial landscape still visible on the moors

• A beautiful, peaceful village with excellent cafés

• A superb walking base with some of the best views in the Moors

• A place where history, landscape, and community blend seamlessly

Part 3. More pictures of the environs of Rosedale Abbey and walking up into Rosedale itself

Ex miners cottages off Daleside Road (eastern side of Rosedale). Hill Houses?

	Some reminders from the past and still functioning like the letter post box! The red pillar box and the Primitive Methodist Chapel of 1872 is now the Ebenezer Methodist Church.

The Orange Tree offers extra spiritual comfort in addition to that provided by the beauty and ambiance of Rosedale!

The ivy clad Hillyard Cottage has lovely views up Rosedale.

The view north-west up Rosedale from near Craven Garth Farm which has holiday cottages attached to it.

Hill Cottages below Swine Stye Hill on Daleside Road.

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Part 4 Walking from Rosedale Abbey to Blakey via Thorgill - a lower route.

Thorgill is a very quiet little hamlet.

Views across to the other side of Rosedale from Thorgill.

*

The old kilns from the days of ironstone mining.

There is a good track heads all the way along Rosedale before climbing up to Blakey.

This is also called Daleside Road - the western version!

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Tranquil autumn in Rosedale

Eventually a bit of hard work has to be done ...

... to reach the Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge.

A few notes about the hamlet of Thorgill

Thorgill is one of the most evocative and least‑known hamlets in the North York Moors — a tiny, linear settlement tucked into a steep side‑valley of Rosedale, with deep medieval roots, strong links to the ironstone era, and a landscape that feels almost unchanged for centuries.
Here is a full, structured, heritage‑rich account tailored to your interests in landscape history, settlement form, and rural culture.

Thorgill, Rosedale: A Complete Historical & Landscape Profile

⭐ Identity & Character

Thorgill is a small hamlet on the west side of Rosedale, about 1 mile south of Rosedale Abbey village.
It sits along the narrow, wooded valley of Thorgill Beck, a tributary of the River Seven.

It is:

• Quiet, secluded, and sparsely populated

• A classic example of a North York Moors side‑dale settlement

• A place where medieval farming, 19th‑century mining, and modern rural life overlap

1. Early History & Name Origins

Norse Roots

The name Thorgill is Old Norse:

• Þór = the god Thor

• gil = a steep ravine or narrow valley

So the name means “Thor’s ravine” — a strong indicator of Viking‑Age settlement in Rosedale (9th–11th centuries).

Medieval Farming Landscape

By the 12th–13th centuries, Thorgill formed part of the Cistercian nunnery estate centred at Rosedale Abbey.
The nuns controlled:

• Sheep grazing on the moor tops

• Meadows and smallholdings in the side valleys

• Water rights along Thorgill Beck

The hamlet's long, narrow plots and dispersed farmsteads reflect this monastic agricultural system.

2. The Ironstone Era (1850s–1920s)

Thorgill was deeply affected by the Rosedale ironstone boom.

What happened here:

• The Thorgill Mines operated on the slopes above the hamlet.

• Miners’ cottages and smallholdings expanded.

• Tracks and tramways linked Thorgill to the Rosedale Railway on the moor top.

• The population of the dale surged.

What survives today:

• Ruins of small mine buildings and spoil heaps on the moorland edge

• Old trackways leading up to the East Mines and Bank Top

• Subtle earthworks in fields around the hamlet

Thorgill is one of the best places to sense the industrial archaeology of Rosedale without the crowds.

3. The Hamlet of Thorgill Today

Thorgill remains tiny — a handful of:

• Stone cottages

• Farmhouses

• Converted barns

• A few holiday lets

It has no shops, cafés, or pubs, which is part of its charm.
The nearest services are in Rosedale Abbey village (1 mile) or Hutton‑le‑Hole (3 miles).

The hamlet is characterised by:

• A single narrow lane

• Steep wooded slopes

• The sound of Thorgill Beck

• A sense of deep rural quiet

4. Landscape & Ecology

Thorgill is one of the most beautiful side‑valleys in the Moors.

Features include:

• Ancient woodland (oak, ash, birch, holly)

• Heather moorland rising steeply above

• Meadows with traditional field boundaries

• Curlew, lapwing, and red grouse on the higher ground

• Dippers and grey wagtails along the beck

The contrast between the wooded ravine and the open moorland above is striking.

5. Churches & Heritage Nearby

Thorgill itself has no church, but it is closely linked to:

St Mary & St Lawrence, Rosedale Abbey

• 1839 church on the site of the medieval nunnery

• Famous 13th‑century priory turret

• Medieval carved stones and monastic archaeology

Ana Cross (on Spaunton Moor)

• One of the largest and most important medieval boundary crosses in the Moors

• Visible from the high ground above Thorgill

6. Visitor Amenities (nearby)

In Rosedale Abbey (1 mile):

• Graze on the Green – excellent café

• Abbey Stores – shop & tea room

• Coach House Inn – pub with food

• White Horse Farm Inn – superb views over the dale

In Hutton‑le‑Hole (3 miles):

• Ryedale Folk Museum

• Crown Inn

• Tea rooms and craft shops

Thorgill itself is best thought of as a quiet base for walking and exploring.

7. Walks In & Around Thorgill

This is one of the best walking areas in the Moors.

Short Walks

• Thorgill Beck Loop – woodland and water

• Thorgill to Rosedale Abbey – easy, scenic

Medium Walks

• Thorgill → East Mines → Bank Top – superb industrial archaeology

• Thorgill → Ana Cross → Rosedale Abbey – classic moorland circuit

Long Walks

• Rosedale Railway Trackbed (via Thorgill)

• Thorgill → Lastingham (via Spaunton Moor)

I can map any of these into a detailed route if you want.

Why Thorgill Is Special

• A Viking‑named hamlet with deep medieval roots

• A quiet, atmospheric side‑dale untouched by modern development

• Strong links to the Rosedale ironstone industry

• Beautiful woodland–moorland contrast

• Close to excellent cafés, pubs, and heritage sites

• Ideal for walkers, photographers, and landscape historians

The reclusive Northdale, a branch off the main valley of Rosedale

Northdale (North Dale) is a northern section branching of Rosedale itself (which runs north-west from Rosedale Abbey) and  is most readily accessed from the road (the section called Knott Road) down to Rosedale Abbey from the junction at Ralph's Cross on the Castleton to Hutton-le-Hole road.

Looking north-east, a view of the northern part of North Dale, Northdale Rigg in distant right of the picture. There are some pleasant tracks to explore in this part of Rosedale. In the foreground is the banks of an old reservoir, still full of water, from some past industrial use. On the right is the spread of buildings of Northdale Farm.

There are spoil heaps and signs of industrial excavation by the side of Knott Road - from ironstone mining?

Looking north-east towards Broom Hill, Northdale Head House and beyond to West Northdale Farm, Rosedale.

Looking south-east across North Dale, Rosedale.

You can walk around and through North Dale and end up by the War Memorial above Rosedale Abbey with great views of Rosedale itself.

The countryside of Rosedale to the west of North Dale, shot from the road up to Ralph's Cross, about half-way up you can start the walk into North Dale (which is out of sight to the right of these scenes).

The Northdale art trail near Rosedale - The 'Hanging Stones' project by Andy Goldsworthy

(1) is the 'FIREPLACE' art installation, (2) is the 'RED HOUSE' installation

The 'art installation' known as the Red House, Northdale, near Rosedale by Andy Goldsworthy

Northdale Head House, on the left is the 'Red House'.

The 'Fireplace' is quite atmospheric in the 'dark' weather.

The interior of the 'Fireplace' house.

Some kind of stone wall construction near Northdale Farm, purpose?, just as good as Andy Goldsworthy's work?

Andy Goldsworthy's “Hanging Stones” Project

The Northdale Art Trail — and especially Andy Goldsworthy’s Hanging Stones — is one of the most quietly powerful landscape‑art projects in the North York Moors.
It's subtle, deeply rooted in place, and easy to miss unless you know what you’re looking for.
Below is a full, structured, heritage‑landscape‑art guide tailored to your interests in history, ecology, and rural interpretation.

1. What Is the Northdale Art Trail?

The Northdale Art Trail is a curated walking route in Rosedale, centred on the secluded side‑valley of Northdale (north of Rosedale Abbey village).
It was developed in the early 2000s as part of a North York Moors National Park arts initiative to bring contemporary land art into dialogue with the dale's:

• Medieval monastic history

• Industrial ironstone heritage

• Moorland ecology

• Traditional farming landscape

The trail includes several small‑scale interventions, but the most significant — and the one that has gained international attention — is Andy Goldsworthy’s Hanging Stones.

2. Andy Goldsworthy's “Hanging Stones” Project

⭐ Overview

Hanging Stones is a multi‑site, multi‑year landscape artwork created by Andy Goldsworthy, one of Britain’s most influential environmental artists.
It was commissioned by the North York Moors National Park Authority as part of a long‑term exploration of Rosedale’s landscape and history.

Goldsworthy’s concept was to create a series of stone sculptures that:

• Respond to the dale's geology

• Echo the forms of abandoned industrial structures

• Engage with the valley's steep slopes, becks, and woodland

• Weather and change over time

The project is deliberately quiet, non‑intrusive, and integrated into the land.

3. What the “Hanging Stones” Actually Are

Goldsworthy created a series of stone‑built forms, each placed in a specific landscape context.
They include:

1. Suspended or “hanging” stones

• Large blocks of local stone held in place by dry‑stone walls or arched recesses

• They appear to be “caught” or “held” by the landscape

• Symbolise the tension between gravity, geology, and human intervention

2. Stone arches and chambers

• Small, cave‑like structures

• Built using traditional dry‑stone techniques

• Referencing both sheep folds and mine entrances

3. Stone “markers”

• Upright stones placed along old industrial routes

• Echoing waymarkers, boundary stones, and moorland crosses

4. Interventions in ruined buildings

• Goldsworthy sometimes inserted stone forms into the remains of old mine structures

• This creates a dialogue between 19th‑century industry and 21st‑century art

The works are not signposted in a conventional way — part of the experience is discovering them in the landscape.

4. Themes of the Artwork

Goldsworthy’s Hanging Stones explores several layers of Rosedale’s identity:

Geology

• Rosedale’s ironstone seams

• The weight and presence of stone

• Erosion, weathering, and time

Industrial heritage

• Echoes of the calcining kilns, tramways, and mine entrances

• The idea of stone being “worked,” “held,” or “released”

Monastic history

• Quietness, enclosure, contemplation

• The Cistercian nuns’ relationship with the land

Nature and change

• Moss, lichen, water, frost

• The artworks are designed to age, not remain pristine

5. The Northdale Setting

Northdale is one of the most beautiful and least‑visited parts of Rosedale:

• A narrow, steep‑sided valley

• Ancient woodland (oak, birch, holly)

• Old farmsteads and abandoned industrial remains

• A sense of deep seclusion

Goldsworthy chose this location because it is intimate, hidden, and rich in layered history.

6. How to See the Hanging Stones

There is no single marked route, but the National Park produced a map and leaflet (now out of print).
The general approach is:

Start: Rosedale Abbey village

Walk north along the lane into Northdale.

Look for:

• Old farm buildings with stone interventions

• Arched dry‑stone structures

• Stones suspended within wall recesses

• Upright marker stones on the slopes

• Subtle changes in the landscape that “feel” intentional

Important

Goldsworthy’s work is integrated into working farmland.
Respect:

• Livestock

• Walls and gates

• Private property

• Seasonal restrictions

The art is meant to be discovered slowly, not consumed as a checklist.

7. Why the Project Matters

• It is one of Goldsworthy’s most site‑specific and landscape‑integrated works.

• It connects art, archaeology, geology, and ecology.

• It revitalises a quiet dale without overwhelming it.

• It encourages slow, attentive walking — the essence of the North York Moors.

8. Nearby Visitor Amenities (Rosedale Abbey)

After exploring Northdale, the village offers:

Cafés

• Graze on the Green

• Abbey Stores & Tea Room

Pubs / Food

• Coach House Inn

• White Horse Farm Inn (superb views)

Heritage

• Priory turret

• St Mary & St Lawrence Church

• Rosedale History Society exhibitions

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	Rosedale Abbey, Rosedale, North York Moors, North Yorkshire, England - Rosedale is on many walking routes and walkers are well served by the Abbey Stores and Abbey Tearoom (top left), shop and post office, Rosedale Abbey, in lovely Rosedale on the North York Moors. Just across the road is Rosedale Church and a small Abbey remnant, Graze on the Green & tearoom (above - good coffee and cakes!).
White Horse (right) which is below the ruins of the old kilns at Bank Top that roasted the ore from the Rosedale ironstone mines (below)
	There are several campsites in Rosedale and all in lovely locations even if the caravans are not a pretty sight themselves.

 

The White Horse Farm Hotel has been recently refurbished, with great views across the car park, the White Horse was always one of our favourite 'moorland' pubs.

*  previous page <-> next page  *

Lastingham, Rosedale, Farndale, Hutton-le-Hole and Bransdale INDEX

 Holidays in North York Moors North Yorkshire Northern England docspics pictures images © Phil Brown * tourism information top tourist attractions for holidays on the North York Moors, holiday cottages, good food pubs, restaurants, B&B, hotels, walking, historic towns, pretty villages, churches, coach tours, friendly people! docspics images photos of Rosedale Abbey © Phil Brown Tourist information on Rosedale Abbey, top tourist attractions near Rosedale Abbey Things to do near Rosedale Abbey, What to see near Rosedale Abbey, Walks near Rosedale Abbey, weekend breaks near Rosedale Abbey family holidays near Rosedale Abbey, Top tourist attractions near Rosedale Abbey, luxury hotels near Rosedale Abbey, self-catering holiday cottages near Rosedale Abbey, B&B near Rosedale Abbey, friendly pubs near Rosedale Abbey, cafes near Rosedale Abbey, eating out in fine restaurants near Rosedale Abbey, bargain holiday breaks near Rosedale Abbey, wining & dining weekends near Rosedale Abbey, touring 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A walk around Rosedale and the old ironstone mines - An Industrial Archaeology Walk

Views of Rosedale, North York Moors

Lastingham, Rosedale, Farndale, Hutton-le-Hole, Bransdale INDEX

A spot of Industrial Archaeology

At one time, the much sought after ironstone!

These pictures illustrate Route 3 "Rosedale's Mineral Railway" from "Ten Scenic Walks around Rosedale, Farndale and Hutton-le-Hole" by J. Brian Beadle or the "Upper Rosedale" walk from "Walking on the North York Moors" compiled by the Ramblers Association but starting from the car park near Blakey Ridge (12 miles).

The pictures were mainly taken on glorious winter days and very grey winter days!

In 1861 a railway was constructed from Battersby Junction below the Moors in the east and came east right across to the east side Rosedale by 1865. However as the ironstone ran out the line closed in 1929, but there is considerable industrial archaeological evidence for its existence.

The walk start car park is on the right of the picture (two cars in sight), on the left of the road just beyond the Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge in the Hutton-le-Hole direction. Rosedale is on the left (Farndale is out of sight on the right).

The remains of the railway bridge at Blakey and the track bed heading west above Farndale.

Only works for ghost trains these days over the wild moorland!

A cold late Autumn day on the old mineral railway track above Rosedale

Across the middle of the picture you can just make out where the railway track ran.

Just down on the left from the Blakey Ridge car park is one lone piece of brickwork from a building that once stood by the railway track.

It has been painted a garish pink!!! Blakey Ridge up on the left.

Sheep grazing by the old kilns on the Rosedale Circuit Walk.

The old kilns provide shelter for sheep.

Rather more plain to see on closer inspection!

Sheep and building ruins in the industrial archaeological landscape.

One of many sections of embankments.

The upper and lower levels railway track beds.

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The walls of the giant kilns (ovens) used to roast the ore before transportation to the iron furnaces of Teesside and Middlesbrough by railway.

The stones of the kiln walls are red from the furnace chemistry. You can see the bed of the lower railway track at their foot.

Looking back north along the bed of the old mineral railway line you can climb up above the great iron-ore roasting kilns.

From the top of the south-east kilns you can see the upper and lower railway embankments on the east side of Rosedale.

Last shot of the kilns.

The ghostly remains of the mining buildings, like some ruinous medieval castle!, before heading along on the old railway 'path' round to Blakey Ridge and perhaps call in at the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, a pub that goes back to the 16th century.

Once an entrance arch to one of the mine tunnel and galleries

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You can include the kilns-furnaces on a circular walk from Rosedale Abbey village and half-way round you can call at the Dale Head Farm tea garden for refreshments e.g. drinks and snacks - Yorkshire cakes teas and coffees. You can descend to from the old railway track on the north side of Rosedale.

 

The only waterfall I know in Rosedale! On ??? Lane

 

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A disused airshaft.

The ruinous remnants of mining buildings and loading staithes (loading bays) above Hill Cottages on the south-east side of Rosedale.

This ends the section east side of Rosedale.

Rosedale Abbey Village

You ascend the road up out of Rosedale Abbey to pick up the railway track to return to Blakey Ridge car park.

Near Rosedale Bank Top are the remains of the kilns (picture below) that roasted iron ore to drive off water and carbon dioxide gas to concentrate the iron-ore before transportation to the Teesside-Middlesbrough blast furnaces. The remains of the kilns are near the top of the 'Rosedale Chimney', a very steep road up from Rosedale Abbey.

I usually set off on the western side of Rosedale to go round in a clockwise direction and on the way you can see across to the iron-ore kilns (more on these see further up the page).

The old railway track above Rosedale near where few stones and shafts remain from the old ironstone mines.

There are several old mine shafts close to the paths (ex old ironstone railway track) and look down into them - with great care! This one is from Sheriff's Pit (see more pictures below). These pictures (above and below) are from 2007.

... and more ruins of old mining buildings stand lonely and forlorn, again like the remains of a devastated medieval castle!

More recent pictures of the disused Sheriff's Pit (March 2011), the deep shaft is well fenced off (on the far right), and no wonder. Sheriff's Pit was a drift mine but the ironstone ore was lifted to the surface up this shaft, which is close to the west side railway line when it would have been taken to the calcing ovens at Rosedale Chimney Bank Top.

	The same 'mining' scenes in Rosedale in 2018

To the east of Sheriff's Pit, is a 'Pile of Stones' (marked on OS map at 703963) and further west down in Rosedale itself is the small hamlet of Thorgill which would have been a place the Rosedale ironstone miners lived in.

There is a 'memorial' to the miners of Rosedale.

The inscriptions on either side of the bench are ...

In the dark, working hard, loading up the wooden cart,

Work-shift over, in the sun, on the hill, having fun.

An appropriate way to end this page - a homage to all miners

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Ironstone mining and walking around Rosedale on the old railway track bed

Rosedale's ironstone industry is one of the most dramatic and important chapters in the history of the North York Moors — a story of remote moorland suddenly transformed into an industrial powerhouse, with railways, kilns, and whole communities built on the high ground.
What survives today is one of the most atmospheric industrial landscapes in Britain, and the old railway trackbed is now one of the finest walking routes in the Moors.
Below is a full, structured, heritage‑rich account, including the café at Dale Head Farm (often called Dale End in local usage).

1. The Rise of Ironstone Mining in Rosedale (1850s–1920s)

⭐ Why Rosedale?

Rosedale sits on a rich seam of magnetite ironstone, unusually pure and close to the surface.
This made it ideal for extraction and calcining (pre‑heating to remove impurities).

Early Discovery

• Small‑scale ironstone use may date back to the 18th century, but

• 1856 marks the beginning of commercial mining, when the Rosedale & Ferryhill Iron Company opened the first major workings.

Two Mining Districts

Rosedale had two huge mining complexes:

1. Rosedale East Mines

• On the eastern rim of the dale

• Famous for the massive calcining kilns (still standing)

• Produced millions of tonnes of ore

• Linked by incline to the railway at Bank Top

2. Rosedale West Mines

• On the western side, above Thorgill

• Extensive drift mines and tramways

• Large spoil heaps and ruined buildings remain

The Rosedale Railway (1861–1929)

The railway was the lifeline of the industry.

• Opened 1861

• Ran around the rim of the dale, not the valley floor

• Connected to the North Eastern Railway at Battersby

• Carried ironstone to Teesside for smelting

• Included the famous Ingleby Incline, a steep rope‑worked incline dropping 1,400 ft in 1 mile

The railway is now a superb walking and cycling route.

Peak Years

• 1870s–1880s

• Rosedale was producing over 600,000 tonnes of ironstone per year

• Population soared from a few hundred to over 3,000

• Schools, chapels, shops, and whole streets of miners’ cottages were built on the moor tops

Decline and Closure

• Competition from cheaper foreign ore

• Falling demand

• Mines closed 1926

• Railway closed 1929

• Many buildings were abandoned or dismantled

Today the dale has returned to quiet farming and tourism, but the industrial scars remain spectacular.

2. What Survives Today

East Mines Calcining Kilns

• One of the largest surviving industrial structures in the Moors

• A long, curving wall of arches built into the hillside

• Used to heat ironstone to remove moisture and impurities

• Atmospheric, photogenic, and accessible

Railway Trackbed

• Level, wide, and ideal for walking

• Runs along the moorland edge with huge views

• Passes ruined cottages, old sidings, and embankments

Bank Top

• Former railway station and industrial village

• Ruins of cottages, offices, and workshops

• Superb viewpoint over the dale

West Mines

• More subtle remains

• Spoil heaps, drift entrances, and ruined buildings

• Best accessed from Thorgill or Rosedale Abbey

3. Walks Around the Old Railway Line Trackbed

Here are the best walking routes for exploring the mining landscape.

A. Rosedale Railway Trackbed Loop (East Side)

Distance: 5–7 miles
Start: Rosedale Abbey or Dale Head Farm
Highlights:

• East Mines kilns

• Railway embankments

• Views across the whole dale

• Ruined cottages at Bank Top

• Heather moorland and curlew in summer

This is the classic route for first‑time visitors.

B. Bank Top & East Mines Circuit

Distance: 4 miles
Start: Car park at the top of Chimney Bank
Highlights:

• Walk along the railway

• Explore the kilns

• Visit Bank Top ruins

• Return via moorland paths

Shorter but very rewarding.

C. West Mines & Thorgill Loop

Distance: 6–8 miles
Start: Rosedale Abbey
Highlights:

• Quiet, atmospheric ruins

• Old tramways

• Spoil heaps and drift entrances

• Woodland and beck scenery in Thorgill

This is the more secluded, less‑visited side of the industry.

D. Full Rosedale Rim Walk (Railway Circuit)

Distance: 12–14 miles
Start: Anywhere in the dale
Highlights:

• Complete circuit of the railway

• Both East and West Mines

• Ana Cross

• Huge moorland panoramas

One of the great long walks of the North York Moors.

4. Café at Dale Head Farm (Dale End Farm)

Yes — this is a real gem and a favourite stop for walkers exploring the mining landscape.

⭐ Dale Head Farm Tea Garden

• Located at the northern end of Rosedale, near the old railway

• Outdoor seating with superb views

• Homemade cakes, scones, teas, light lunches

• Very walker‑friendly

• Seasonal opening (usually spring–autumn)

It’s perfectly placed for:

• The East Mines

• The railway trackbed

• The Northdale and Dale Head walking routes

Many walkers use it as a midpoint stop on the railway circuit.

5. Why Rosedale's Mining Landscape Is So Special

• It is one of the best‑preserved ironstone landscapes in Britain

• The railway line forms a natural high‑level balcony path

• The kilns are architecturally spectacular

• The dale combines industrial archaeology with deep rural quiet

• The contrast between the moorland rim and the green valley floor is dramatic

• It is a landscape where nature is reclaiming industry, creating a unique atmosphere

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