Description and History of Site:-
Remains of a wide range of structures relating to processing activities survive. The first alum works was established in c.1650 and continued until 1862. Today the site is managed by the National Trust It is believed that the alum house was established around 1615 by Sir Bryan Cooke. By 1674 Sir David Foulis of Ingleby was the lessee who produced 28 tons of alum that year. In 1698 there were new proprietors there - John and Thomas Langstaffe, Edward and William Bower, and Robert Squire who agreed to limit the number of boiling pans to ten, with a maximum of six working in any 24 hour period. From 1736 Sir George Cooke was paid £430 per year to keep the works idle for 21 years, though the works reopened in 1744 with mixed fortunes when the price of alum increased. The works were again idle from 1810 to 1818. Robert Campion became proprietor in 1834 but was bankrupt by 1841. The works struggled on until1862 when it finally closed. At that date it was capable of producing 1200 tons of alum and 800 tons of rough Epsom salts.
The works were originally known as Blackhead alum works, whilst later they were more commonly known as Ravenscar alum works.
Further Reading and References:-Marshall, G 1990. The Ravenscar Alum Works. Trans. Scarborough Arch. & Hist. Soc., No. 28.
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Key Words :- alum house quarry
Viewing the Site :- Site conserved and open to the public access via the Coastal Footpath
Address :- Ravenscar, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO13 0NJ
Grid Ref :- NZ 97350 02180
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.405777 , Long -0.501737
Local Authority :- Scarborough Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - North Riding
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1018146,
Site Condition :- Site conserved and open to the public
Site Dates :- c1615 - 1862
Record Date :- 15 October 2015
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Charles Morris
Grid Ref :- NZ 97350 02180
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.405777 , Long -0.501737
Local Authority :- Scarborough Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - North Riding
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1018146,
Site Condition :- Site conserved and open to the public
Site Dates :- c1615 - 1862
Record Date :- 15 October 2015
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Charles Morris