Chalybeate Stream

Orienteering today, at a small wood called Hutton Mulgrave just off the moors road to Whitby. It shows how serious I take orienteering nowadays as I carry my camera around – just in case.
Before the 2nd control I had to cross this stream; called Eller Beck I discovered later from the OS map. The orange colouring indicates it contains a lot of iron salts. This is known as chalybeate or ferruginous and waters containing these minerals were very popular in the 17th century as they were said to have health-giving properties. They were both drunk and the orange mud used as a face pack as it was supposed to be good for the complexion. Whole towns and villages have developed and prospered around chalybeate springs. Even the young Princess Victoria believed in its properties and drank the waters every day.