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Since I moved back to the UK I have been pondering a theme for a series of local felt pieces. I now live on the edge of the North York moors a really beautiful area with a fantastic coast line which has a really interesting industrial heritage. In the photo above you can see the costal town of Staithes with the Boulby cliffs in the background.  My first thoughts on a theme were something related to the mining of ironstone in the area and the subsequent development of the steel industry, which has sadly recently closed.  Whilst researching I came across another older industry that is far more directly related to my work.

I discovered that during the reign of Henry VIII , a local source of Alum which was critical to the textile industry as a mordant was sought in order to break the papal monopoly. This was in the 16th century.  I still use alum for my natural dyeing. After searches all over England suitable aluminium containing ore was discovered not 10 miles from where I live.  Subsequently North Yorkshire alum mines and processing supplied the whole country with alum until the 19th century.   There are even alum mine workings within walking distance from my house and I never knew. 
The quarrying of the ore was followed by a complicated process taking months , where the ore was first calcined ( heated) , then leached , urine was added and eventually via crystallisation  purified alum crystals were made.  How really exciting – to someone like me who is  fascinated by processes like this.  So I am now on a voyage of discovery , looking for the traces of this old industry.

My first visit to the original mine in Guisborough shows no real traces of the original industry , maybe not really surprising as its so long ago.  The area is crossed by a long distance footpath and is used by the local motorcycle club for off roading. 

I have no idea if my investigation is going to result in some felt masterpieces , but for now I am just going with the flow and I know I am just at the start of a really interesting research project.