Warren Moor Mine

Warren Moor is 1.5 km south east of Kildale, near the head of the River Leven and 700 ft above sea level. The mine was developed despite the poor quality of the ironstone; the actual content of iron in the stone was 26%, relatively low compared with nearby Rosedale which averaged nearly 50% iron content. Having been surveyed in 1857 with several boreholes drilled, the proposers, the Bell Brothers, declined to open the site, however, a railway to export the ironstone was built that connected to what is now the Esk Valley Line. A further 19 boreholes were drilled in 1913, which confirmed iron content at 26% and a bed of ironstone that was 5 ft thick, split in the middle by a band of shale…