Rosedale's World-class Heritage

The unique landscape of North York Moors is the recipient of a £3 Million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The grant is to be used to protect and raise awareness of our unique landscape and industrial archaeology around Rosedale and down the Esk valley.  

The focus is to protect and conserve the pioneering ironstone and railway heritage of Rosedale and Grosmont.  

Iron-ore Sintering Kilns in Rosedale.

Called "This Exploited Land", the grant will also be used to encourage rare wildlife, wild daffodils, ancient woodlands and the special ecosystem of the River Esk.  

Linda Chambers, secretary of the Rosedale History Society, said: "This is wonderful news for all those who live in Rosedale and the Esk Valley, linked as we are by our industrial heritage.  We hope that our communities will continue to support the project over the coming years; this is a great opportunity not only to help maintain our nationally important sites but also to tell our story to the wider world."  

Before the first World War, almost 20 per cent of World iron production came from the Cleveland Hills and the North York Moors around Rosedale.  

The sudden explosion of industrialisation and mining had a huge impact on the landscape of the high North York Moors.

And in Rosedale, much of that industrial heritage is still clearly visible to holidaymakers today.

Rosedale's Industrial Heritage is Still Visible Today. © Chris Caesar.

It is of National and International heritage significance to conserve, protect and record the fragile remains of the industrial revolution that swept across the moors.  

"This Exploited Land" will help to ensure that industrialization of the North York Moors is recognised for its economic and technical influence which extended worldwide.

We hope that the project will bring many benefits to local communities in Rosedale and the Esk Valley.