Monument record 6760/2 - Possible C18th/C19th Clay Workings on The Racecourse

{1} That beds of clay suitable for pipe-making existed locally is proved by frequent references in the columns of Northamton's first weekly newspaper, The Mercury, earliest produced in 1720. From the columns of the Mercury we gather that beds, probably of river-drift clay existed south of Northampton Fields and in Moulton Field, the latter being inferior in quality to the former. The allusion in the advertisements would seem to imply that the clay was not used locally. The pits seem to have run from where the Militia Stores now stand to the back of the Grandstand on the Racecourse. The bed was thoroughly worked out, but even now, when trenches are made in the streets in the vicinity traces of the clay can be seen.

[HER note 08/05/2014: the quarries may be those marked slightly to the south-west on the early OS Surveyors' drawings mof 1813-16. Need to check.]

<1> Moore, W.R.G., 1980, Northamptonshire clay tobacco-pipes and pipemakers, (unchecked) (Book). SNN66479.

Record last edited

May 8 2014 5:45PM