More Information

If you would like to know more about the alum industry then there are lots of publications available in your local library.

Some suggestions for further reading and more information:

  • Steeped in History: the Alum Industry of North-East Yorkshire, Ed. I. Miller (2002), North York Moors National Park
  • The Floating Egg, Roger Osbourne (1998) Jonathan Cape, London
  • The Alum Farm, R.B. Turton (1938), Horne & Son Ltd, Whitby
  • The Alum Works and other industries at Kettleness, North Yorkshire: an archaeological and historical survey. Survey Report A1/24/2003. M. Jecock, C. Dunn, A. Carter and M. Claves (2003). English Heritage
  • Ayton Banks Alum Works, North Yorkshire. Survey Report A1/26/2004. T. Pearson and A. Hunt (2004) English Heritage
  • Loftus Alum Works, Redcar and Cleveland, Cleveland: an archaeological and historical survey. Survey Report A1/02/2004. A. Hunt, T. Pearson, P. Sink, A. Carter, D. Andrews, N. Beckett, S. Tovey, and M. Clowes (2004) English Heritage
  • Along the Esk, D. Goldring, (2006) P. Tuffs
  • Along the Scar, D. Goldring, (2001) P. Tuffs
  • Alum: north east Yorkshire’s fascinating story of the first chemical industry, A Morrison (1981) Pub. A. Morrison
  • The Loftus Alum Makers, P. Appleton (2011)

The Cleveland Industrial Archaeology Society have produced many papers on various aspects of the alum industry.

  • CIA Number 2 (1975) SYMPOSIUM ON THE ALUM INDUSTRY A5 reprint 40 pages £3
    • A brief history of the alum industry in North Yorkshire 1600-1875. R L Pickles
    • Technical aspects of alum-making. J K Almond
    • The alum workers. B J D Harrison
    • Excavation at the Boulby Alum Works. S K Chapman
    • Discussion at meeting held on 24 March 1974
  • CIA Number 12 (1980) A5 reprint of paper 9 pages £1. 50
    • The early years of alum making in Guisborough. Mrs Anne Harrison
  • CIA Number 24 (1997) Includes paper on:- £6
    • The North-Yorkshire alum industry: a technical analysis of the processes used. A E Rout
  • CIA Number 25 (1998) Includes paper on:- £6
    • The identification, commercial evaluation and initial exploitation of alum shale deposits in the British Isles. A E Rout
  • CIA Number 26 (2000) Includes papers on:- £6
    • Evidence of the alum industry on the foreshore at Ravenscar. D Green
    • Sir Joseph Bank’s account of alum making at Kettleness, North Yorkshire. C E Thornton
  • CIA Number 30 (2005) Includes papers on:- £6
    • Sir George Colebrook’s Attempted Alum Monopoly and the Great Ayton Alum Works. Ian Pearce
    • Ayton Banks Alum Works. Robert H de Wardt & David Taylor
    • Boulby Alum Works Tunnel Revisited. Charles H Morris & Simon Whitlock
  • RESEARCH REPORT No 9 (2009) 76 pages £10
    • Boulby Alum. The Works Diary of George Dodds 1772 – 1788. Kevin Quinn

Available from:
Mr. T.T. Hay,
Grindstone Garth
Dalton
Richmond
North Yorkshire DL11 7HX
Phone: 01833-621189
Plus postage: one item £1.00, two items £1.50, three or more items £2.00
Cheques to be payable to: Cleveland Industrial Archaeology Society