The 300 Year Old Ruins That Ran on Human Urine

In a bid to compete with a powerful global monopoly, an incredible fleet of cargo vessels sailed along the east coast of England carrying an unbelievable, foul-smelling cargo: 200 tonnes of human urine collected from the streets of London, Newcastle and Hull. But why were they transporting it all the way to the rugged cliffs of the Yorkshire coast? In this video we're exploring the dramatic, sweeping ruins of Peak Alum Works, to uncover one of the most bizarre and monumental industrial supply chains in British history. Set against the treacherous North Sea, this remote coastal industry relied on a massive logistical network of coal, seaweed, and "liquid gold" to fuel an industry that literally dyed the clothes of the nation's elite. CHAPTERS 0:00 The Bizarre Cargo 1:01 Why Did They Need Urine? 3:18 Why Yorkshire? 4:11 A 200-Tonne Supply Chain 7:10 Exploring Peak Alum Works' Ruins 10:00 Why Working Class Pee Was Better 12:45 How to Visit #weirdhistory #history #yorkshire