Monument record 7567 - Stowe Nine Churches Quarries

{1} It is thought that the first owners of this quarry were Northamptonshire Ironstone Co. who invited applications for shares in the company on the 30th April 1853. Quarry may have commenced in 1853 or 54 but was certainly in operation in 1855 but ceased in 1857. Quarry recommenced in 1863 under the ownership of Stowe Iron Ore Co. The ore was taken from the quarry down to the Heyford ironworks a drop of 240ft. This section of the tramway was worked as a double-acting incline by cable, the descending full wagons drawing up the empties.The remainder of the tramway was worked possibly by locomotive power but more likely by horses. In 1867 Castle Dykes Iron Ore Co. Ltd., took over. The fortunes of the quarry is bound up in the workings of the two ironworks at Heyford and Stowe. In 1875 the Nine Churches Iron Ore Co but went out of business in 1877. The main quarry is shown at grid ref.644574 but there is also a further location to be considered as grid ref.628563 in Lodge Plantation the plantation having been planted to cover the quarrying scars.

<1> Tonks E., 1989, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Northampton Area, p.76-89 (unchecked) (Book). SNN47272.

<2> Smith J., 2001, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Recording Form, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN100799.

Record last edited

Sep 21 2020 8:50AM