Alum Works
Contact information
Ravenscar
Scarborough
Yorkshire YO13 0NE
Telephone: 01723 870423
Email: yorkshirecoast@ntrust.org.uk
Facilities and additional information
From the 1600s to the end of the 1800s, alum was a vital ingredient for two industries - textiles and tanning. In the textile industry it was added to fix dye on cloth, while in tanning it helped to make leather supple and durable. The Peak Alum Works were established around 1650 and operated until 1862. They are owned by the National Trust and are among the best examples of an alum site in the country and a good example of an early industrial complex.On site panels and an illustrative leaflet available from Information Centres help you trace this fascinating industry from the quarries to the Alum Works and on to the Docks below.