Slip-sliding away
Archaelogical dig at alum quarry
Archaeologists are racing again the tide to explore a 19th century alum mine before it slides into the sea.
Alum, used as a dye fixative, was an extremely valuable commodity in the 18th and 19th centuries and its manufacture was one of Britain's earliest chemical industries.
Since the 16th century alum had been imported to England from the Middle East and Italy. However alum shale, rocks rich in the raw material aluminium sulphate, was found to be abundant in the cliffs of Cleveland and North Yorkshire.
According to local folklore Italian alum experts were smuggled into the North East in beer barrels to help establish the industry. In its heyday thousands of people were employed in mining and processing the rocks.
These historic sites are now under severe threat from coastal erosion. As there is no way to prevent their eventual slide into the sea English Heritage are rushing to record the site.
THE SITE IS DANGEROUS AND NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC.
Submitted by: Sarah McLusky, 01 August 2003
