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Alum works at Kettleness is a post-medieval industrial site located on the Yorkshire coast near Whitby. The works date from the seventeenth century onwards, representing an important centre of alum production during a period when England sought to reduce dependence on imported alum from the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. Alum was a vital mordant and fixing agent essential to the textile industry, and the Kettleness works exploited local shale deposits and the proximity to the sea for the salt required in the production process. The site retains substantial physical remains including quarries, leaching tanks, and calcining structures that illustrate the industrial processes and engineering techniques employed in this significant chemical manufacturing enterprise.
Alum works at Kettleness is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1018144. View the official record →
Alum works at Kettleness is a post-medieval industrial site located on the Yorkshire coast near Whitby. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1018144.
Alum works at Kettleness is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1018144.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cairnfield, including a standing stone, round barrow, round cairn, enclosed field and part of Cucket medieval deer park boundary, 360m north of Eden House (6.9 km), Round barrow and two standing stones in Hutton Mulgrave Plantation, 115m west of Swarth Howe (7.1 km), Round barrow on Dunsley Moor, known as Swarth Howe (7.1 km).
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Research the area around Alum works at Kettleness