AFTER a flurry of guesses last week, we seem to have stumped readers with the latest mystery object.

Not one of you came forward with a suggestion.

It was, in fact, a piece of iron fishplate, which was used on the underground rail track within the Burtersett Slate Mines, near Hawes, in Wensleydale, during the late 19th century.

Experts at Craven Museum and Gallery tell us: "A fishplate is a metal bar which is bolted to the ends of rail sections to join them together in a track. The name originates from the term ‘fish’, which was a wooden bar used to strengthen the masts of ships.

"The device was invented by William Bridges Adams who aimed to provide a stronger and more reliable method of joining rails than the ‘scarf joints’ which were previously used."

The Burtersett mines were opened and worked commercially from the 1860s when railway lines were laid in nearby Hawes allowing transportation links with the rest of Britain.

The miners worked by tallow candle light and dug out the stone with picks and levers.Sandstone and slate were mined for building materials until the 1930s when only poor quality stone was left and production stopped.

We are now inviting guesses on the identity of this week's Craven Curiosity. Suggestions should be emailed to news@cravenherald.co.uk.

All items featured in this column are on display in Craven Museum and Gallery which is located in Skipton Town Hall.