Broomhope

Broomhope is a hamlet in Northumberland, located in the valley of Broomhope Burn. Historically, Broomhope, along with nearby Buteland formed a township in the ancient chapelry of Birtley. In the past there was extensive ironstone mining at Broomhope, from which the spoil heaps can still be seen. Ridsdale Iron Works were established in c.1836, but had closed by 1857. Then, in 1864, the industrialist, William Armstrong, brought the mineral rights in the Ridsdale and the Broomhope valley area and moved two of the furnaces from the Ridsdale Iron Works to his Elswick Works. Mining continued and the ironstone was calcinated in kilns at Broomhope and Hindhaugh, then transported by rail, on a branch line along Broomhope valley to Elswick. Some of the iron was used in the construction of the High Level Bridge at Newcastle. The ironstone mine at Broomhope closed in 1879 when the heavily worked deposits became uneconomic. Armstrong established Ridsdale Range in the Broomhope Valley to test his big guns. Ridsdale Range remains in use today by BAE systems.