Rosedale West calciners

At Bank Top, above Rosedale Abbey an inclined tramway from Hollins Mines transported iron ore up around 400ft to these large kilns just below the North Eastern Railway branch terminus. The ore was tipped into the kilns from above to be calcined to drive off water and carbonic acid gas. This process dramatically reduces the weight of the ironstone which in turn reduces transport costs and royalties. Initially using locally mined poor coal, later the empty wagons returning from the ironworks in County Durham brought coal for the calcination process.

Much of the masonry of the kilns survives but all the shutters and ironwork have long gone. The calcination process produces a lot of dust which is rich in iron oxide; this was recovered from 1920 onwards.