Monument record 3088/2 - Wakerley Calcining Kilns

In a field between Wakerley and Barrowden, beside the disused Seaton to Peterborough Railway, are the remains of a set of four circular calcining kilns which were built during the First World War but never used. Two of the kilns are incomplete. The kilns, loading ramps and earthwork evidence of opencast ironstone extraction and railway embankments all survive. The workings closed in 1921 and the kilns were abandoned, but now form a local landmark feature.

{1} Site 408, remains of calcine kilns and ironstone working. Remains of four calcining kilns built during WWI but never used. Photo of the two completed kilns.

{2} Easily visible in a field between Wakerley and Barrowden are the remains of four calcining kilns which were built during WWI but never used. Two of the kilns are incomplete. Close by are tramway embankments and the remains of a tipping dock adjacent to the London & North Western line from Seaton to Wansford. Photo.

{3} Wakerley calcining kilns have probably never been used. Of the four circular sectioned kilns on brick pedestals, only two were completed; they were built in 1915 beside the Seaton to Peterborough Railway. Ironstone from nearby workings was to be brought in at high level by narrow gauge railway and remains of the embankments can be seen. The local workings closed in 1921 and the kilns were abandoned.

{4} Four large circular kilns were constructed during 1915 for the roasting of iron ore from the adjacent opencast mine. The opencast mine was closed during 1921 and it seems that the kilns were never used. Evidence of the loading ramps and wagon way also survive close to the kilns. The kilns are each separately listed grade II.

{5} Two of a planned set of four large circular kilns on pedestals were built in 1915, and abandoned before being used when the associated opencast closed in 1921. The kilns, loading ramps and evidence of opencasting all survive. The kilns form a local landmark feature.
There is good potential for building recording and landscape surveying to demonstrate the operation of the site, had the kilns been used.
The form of the kilns is thought to be nationally unique. Two fields contain the kiln complex and part of the opencasting with transport and other earthwork features.
MPP Recommendation: Scheduling the two fields as part of a wider opencasting landscape. Mapped proposal in report.
Management Recommendation: The kilns are in need of consolidation. Photographic and building recording should precede work.

{6} The owners from 1907 were Bell Bros.Ltd; from 1915 Wakerley Ironstone Co.Ltd; from 1918 Partington Steel & Iron Co.Ltd. Until closure by 1927. Discussions were started in 1907 to start quarrying, bore holes were made in the same year but it was not until 1911 that the company decided to go ahead. It was not until 27th January 1913 that it was reported the quarries were working. Operations were short-lived and they closed down in February 1914. A tramway junction with LNWR Peterborough to Rugby line was built at Wakerley. Workings were restarted in 1915 and were helped by Prisoner of War labour. The workings were south of the railway line and west of the village of Wakerley. The precise date of closure is not known but the railway records notice that the quarry closed just after or in 1921. The owner at the time merely recorded that they were closed by 1927.

<1> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, p.88 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

<2> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), p.86 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.

<3> Palmer M; Neaverson P., 1992, Industrial Landscapes of the East Midlands, p.129 (checked) (Book). SNN3691.

<4> Instone E., 1995, Monuments Protection Programme: The Iron Mining Industry (Introduction to Step 3 Site Assessments), p.38 Northamptonshire Site 3 (checked) (Report). SNN109473.

<5> Instone E., 1995, Iron Mining Industry: Site Assessment (Wakerley Calcining Kilns), Northamptonshire Site 3 (checked) (Report). SNN109474.

<6> Tonks E., 1992, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Corby Area, p.263-69 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39836.

<7> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, Issue 126 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<8> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2023 9:31AM