Land of Iron

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Land of Iron A state-of-the-art visitor attraction exploring the industrial heritage of Teesside. Open now. He collected all the memorabilia he could.

Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum is an independent museum celebrating the heritage of the ironstone mining industry. In the 1950s, whist reporting on the ironstone mine closures, Tom Leonard, a local newspaper reporter, became acutely aware remains of the ironstone mining industry were rapidly being lost. In 1978, the Museum was founded to house Tom’s collection and to celebrate the legacy of the industry through the preservation, conservation and display of related artefacts, photographs and documents.

🏠 HOME EDUCATORS: WHAT WAS A TRAPPY LAD?For children like Ned in Theresa Tomlinson’s Ironstone Valley, working life coul...
27/10/2026

🏠 HOME EDUCATORS: WHAT WAS A TRAPPY LAD?

For children like Ned in Theresa Tomlinson’s Ironstone Valley, working life could begin underground at a very young age.

A trappy lad had an important job in the mine, opening and closing ventilation doors as miners, ponies and tubs moved through the workings.

Our next Home Educator Morning uses the story of Ironstone Valley to explore local folklore and what life might have been like for a child working in East Cleveland’s ironstone mines.

No prior reading of the book is needed.

📅 Monday 2 November
⏰ 10am–12pm
📍 Land of Iron, Skinningrove
👧 Designed for ages 7–11 / KS2, with older children welcome
🎟 £6 per child plus booking fee
👨‍👩‍👧 Accompanying adults attend free

This is the third in our series of four Home Educator Mornings at Land of Iron.

Find out more: https://buff.ly/QDW76ga

Book directly: https://buff.ly/PvstbKN

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

📚 MORE THAN JUST BOOKS: THE STORY OF TEESSIDE'S LIBRARIESFor generations, public libraries have been places of discovery...
27/10/2026

📚 MORE THAN JUST BOOKS: THE STORY OF TEESSIDE'S LIBRARIES

For generations, public libraries have been places of discovery, learning and community life across Teesside.

But behind the bookshelves are stories of the people who worked in them, the communities they served and the generations who passed through their doors.

This Thursday, author Debbie Rolls joins us at Land of Iron to explore the fascinating history of Teesside's public libraries.

Debbie is the author of *Everyone Welcome: Remembering and Celebrating Teesside Public Libraries*, a book celebrating the libraries and their place in local life.

Part of our Tom Leonard Lecture Series.

📅 Thursday 29 October 2026
🕕 Doors open 6pm | Talk begins 6.30pm
📍 Land of Iron, Skinningrove
🎟️ £5 per person, plus online booking fee

🎟️ Book your place:
https://buff.ly/k8qxy0b

Discover more about the talk:
https://buff.ly/DxracmH

Do you have memories of Teesside's libraries? Come along on Thursday and discover more about their history!

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

🏠 HOME EDUCATORS: STEP INTO IRONSTONE VALLEY NEXT MONDAYWhat might life have been like for an 11-year-old working deep i...
26/10/2026

🏠 HOME EDUCATORS: STEP INTO IRONSTONE VALLEY NEXT MONDAY

What might life have been like for an 11-year-old working deep inside an ironstone mine?

Our next Home Educator Morning is inspired by Theresa Tomlinson’s Ironstone Valley and explores local folklore and the life of a trappy lad, one of the young workers who helped keep the mines running.

No prior reading of the book is needed.

📅 Monday 2 November
⏰ 10am–12pm
📍 Land of Iron, Skinningrove
👧 Designed for children aged 7–11 at Key Stage 2 level, with older children also welcome
🎟 £6 per child plus booking fee
👨‍👩‍👧 Accompanying adults attend free

Places are limited to just 15 children and advance booking is essential.

Find out more and book: https://buff.ly/QDW76ga

This session is specifically for home-educated children and their accompanying adults.

If you’re a school interested in a class visit, we’d be very happy to arrange a dedicated session. Please contact [email protected].

You can also sign up for our occasional Learning updates through the event page to hear about future Home Educator workshops and other Learning activities at Land of Iron.

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

CLOTHING TO DYE FORRust, iron and fabric come together in some of the most experimental pieces in Ironstone Memories.Acr...
26/10/2026

CLOTHING TO DYE FOR

Rust, iron and fabric come together in some of the most experimental pieces in Ironstone Memories.

Across the exhibition, Cleveland Fibre Arts have transformed everyday garments using rust dyeing, iron staining, printing, stitch and other textile techniques.

Part of the appeal is the unpredictability of the process. Rust creates marks and patterns that cannot be repeated exactly, meaning each finished piece is completely individual.

From shirts and jackets to knitted and felted garments, the clothes rail shows just how many different surfaces can become part of the story.

Ironstone Memories is on display in the Tom Leonard Gallery at Land of Iron until Saturday 31 October.

Find out more: https://landofiron.org.uk/news/ironstone-memories-cleveland-fibre-arts-2026

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

📚 THE UNTOLD STORIES OF TEESSIDE'S PUBLIC LIBRARIESFor generations, public libraries have been at the heart of communiti...
25/10/2026

📚 THE UNTOLD STORIES OF TEESSIDE'S PUBLIC LIBRARIES

For generations, public libraries have been at the heart of communities across Teesside. Places to discover new worlds, share knowledge and bring people together.

But how much do we know about their history and the people who made them such an important part of local life?

This Thursday, we're delighted to welcome local author Debbie Rolls to Land of Iron for a fascinating journey through the history of Teesside's public libraries.

Drawing on her research into the region's libraries, Debbie will explore their history, their place in our communities and the memories they have created.

Part of our Tom Leonard Lecture Series.

📅 Thursday 29 October 2026
🕕 Doors open 6pm | Talk begins 6.30pm
📍 Land of Iron, Skinningrove
🎟️ £5 per person, plus online booking fee

Find out more and book your place:
https://buff.ly/DxracmH

💬 Do you remember your local library? Perhaps your first library card, a favourite book or someone who worked there? Come along on Thursday to explore the history behind those memories, and we'd love to hear your stories in the comments too!

You can also follow the Facebook Event:
https://buff.ly/E0lMfvZ

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

THE LAST SHIFT: A MINER AND HIS HORSE, RECREATED IN FIBRE AND FABRICThe Last Shift by Catherine Woodall is one of the mo...
24/10/2026

THE LAST SHIFT: A MINER AND HIS HORSE, RECREATED IN FIBRE AND FABRIC

The Last Shift by Catherine Woodall is one of the most characterful pieces in our Ironstone Memories exhibition.

The hand-made scene brings together a miner and a needle-felted horse, drawing on the important role horses once played alongside people in the ironstone industry.

Look closely and you’ll find felt work, dyeing, garment making, stitching and knitted elements all brought together in one piece.

It’s another example of how Cleveland Fibre Arts have taken familiar parts of East Cleveland’s mining story and interpreted them through textile craft.

Ironstone Memories is on display in the Tom Leonard Gallery at Land of Iron until Saturday 31 October.

Find out more:
https://buff.ly/kCgKb63

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

🥾 DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF UPLEATHAM MINEFor more than 70 years, Upleatham Mine was part of East Cleveland's thriving iro...
23/10/2026

🥾 DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF UPLEATHAM MINE
For more than 70 years, Upleatham Mine was part of East Cleveland's thriving ironstone mining industry, employing hundreds of men and boys.

Today, the surrounding landscape still holds traces of that industrial past.

⛏️ On Saturday 7 November, our Upleatham Mine Heritage Walk returns, offering another opportunity to explore the history of the mine, the people who worked there and the surviving features hidden within Errington Woods.

Join Land of Iron for a guided four-mile circular walk through this fascinating landscape, discovering the stories behind an industry that helped shape East Cleveland.

📅 Saturday 7 November 2026
⏰ 10am–approximately 2pm
📍 Errington Woods, near Guisborough
🥾 4 miles | Moderate difficulty
🎟️ £7.50 per person + online booking fee

Advance booking recommended.
🎟️ Book your place: https://buff.ly/jzBvB9X

Read more about the walk: https://buff.ly/IPgmG5q

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PIECES IN IRONSTONE MEMORIES 👀Created by Catherine Woodall, this extraordinary multi-layered dr...
22/10/2026

ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PIECES IN IRONSTONE MEMORIES 👀

Created by Catherine Woodall, this extraordinary multi-layered dress brings together hand knitting, wet felting, beadwork, a sheep-lock collar, garment construction and iron-dyed elements.

It’s a piece that really rewards a closer look. From the rust-like markings across the fabric to the layers, textures and handmade details, there is an incredible amount of work to discover.

And it’s just one of the many ways Cleveland Fibre Arts have reimagined the ironstone heritage and landscape of East Cleveland through textiles.

Ironstone Memories is in the Tom Leonard Gallery at Land of Iron until Saturday 31 October.

Find out more: https://buff.ly/kCgKb63

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

Have you ever wondered what’s left of Lumpsey Mine?This Saturday, join Land of Iron for a guided heritage walk through t...
22/10/2026

Have you ever wondered what’s left of Lumpsey Mine?

This Saturday, join Land of Iron for a guided heritage walk through the landscape behind Carlin How to the former Lumpsey Mine site.

Opened in 1882, Lumpsey Mine operated for more than 70 years. By 1921, nearly 500 men and boys worked there, and the mine became known for showcasing new mining technology, including the area’s only use of hydraulic drills.

Our five-mile walk will explore the story of the mine, the people who worked there and the surviving features still visible in the landscape today.

📅 THIS SATURDAY – 24 October
🕙 10am start
📍 Meet at Land of Iron
🥾 Approximately five miles
⏱ Three to four hours
🎟 £7.50 per person

There are still places available, but tickets must be booked in advance.

Read more about the Lumpsey Heritage Walk: https://buff.ly/RiABk3x

Book your tickets directly: https://buff.ly/LjqsyXr

Please wear sturdy footwear and bring drinking water, weather-appropriate clothing and a snack or packed lunch.

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

⛏️ MORE THAN MINING: DISCOVER WHAT'S NEW AT LAND OF IRON!There's even more to explore at Land of Iron!We've been busy re...
20/10/2026

⛏️ MORE THAN MINING: DISCOVER WHAT'S NEW AT LAND OF IRON!

There's even more to explore at Land of Iron!

We've been busy refreshing our main exhibition, bringing together new displays, more objects, historical photographs and fascinating stories from Cleveland's ironstone heritage.

From ancient seas and the origins of ironstone to the miners, working animals, families and communities that shaped our region, there's so much to discover.

And we're not finished! Our Collections team continues to develop the exhibition, adding new objects and stories as we work to preserve and celebrate our region's remarkable history.

👀 Whether you've visited before or are discovering Land of Iron for the first time, we'd love to welcome you.

📖 Read our latest article "More Than Mining: Telling Cleveland's Story at Land of Iron", and discover more about the exhibition:
https://buff.ly/jliaeLH

Land of Iron’s programme of events and activities is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

Address

Mill Lane, Skinningrove
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
TS134AP

Telephone

+441287642877

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