Monument record 8607/1 - Possible Medieval/Post Medieval Stone Quarry

{1} Sections confirmed the presence of shallow open cast workings, there were no in situ finds to establish purpose or date of quarrying activity. Interpretation suggests that the workings were directed towards the calcerous 'Pendle Beds' facies. The stone waste heaps characterised as hills and removed during redevelopment appeared to support this.
It is possible that the quarry was used to supply stone for the redevelopment of the routes in and around the Kettering Road vicinity.

{3} East of the Nursery Pit, towards the Kettering Road, is an extensive area of 'Hills and Hollows' which are the remains of old quarries in 'Pendle' limestone, with some brown sandstone above. In 1895 the Northampton Golf Club took over the site, but it is now a Local Nature Reserve knowns as Bradlaugh Fields.
No-one knows when these quarries were worked, but they must be earlier than the late C19th, though not necessarily as old as the Roman settlement on the site of the present supermarket.
There are no buildings of 'Pendle' in the immediate vicinity. Moulton Park was less than 1km to the north, and surrounded by a stone wall which was repaired often. However the 'Hills and Hollows' cover a bigger area than mere stone pits for a boundary wall. Buildings in Abington, including the 'abbey' are built mainly of 'Pendle' limestone, but there may have been more local sources for this.

{4} Quarrying of Pendle (white limestone) here is thought to have extended up to the end of the C17th, but is probably mainly of medieval date.

<1> Best J., 1998-9, Finds from Redevelopment of Part of the Old Northampton Golf Club Course, Kettering Road, Northampton 1994-1995, p.153-58 (part checked) (Article). SNN104044.

<2> Bradlaugh Barn Association, 2005, Secrets of Bradlaugh Fields, Northampton, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN106009.

<3> Sutherland D.S., 2003, Northamptonshire Stone, p.60-61 (checked) (Book). SNN104515.

<4> Welsh T., 2007, Hills and Hollows (Old Northampton Golf Club), Bradlaugh Fields SP769630 and SP770631, (part checked) (Note). SNN106939.

Record last edited

Jan 9 2013 6:08PM