Monument record 6302/1 - Corby Steelworks
Please read our guidance about the use of Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Corby was dominated by Stewarts and Lloyds steelworks (which were nationalised to become part of the British Steel Corporation in 1967) between 1932 and 1979.
Map
Type and Period (3)
Full Description
{1} The ironworks operated between 1910 and 1980.
{2} Smoke screen generators, 1942. During WWII the steelworks considered a prime target. To reduce the risk of attack, the works buildings were painted in camouflage colours and smoke screen generators, worked by paraffin, were set up in the area to create a smoke screen at the first sign of danger. Picture identifies these encircling the roundabout near the Open Hearth Pub.
{3} "the principle ammunition and armament components produced in the company". These include steel forgings, finished shells, shot, parts for spigot mortars, vehicle assemblies, cluster bombs, marine boiler parts, gun mountings, 1,000 miles for Operation 'Pluto', and many other parts.
{4} Corby was involved in the production of PLUTO (the pipeline under the ocean; there were two pipelines, one lead cased and one steel cased), manufacturing several miles of hardened steel pipeline.
{5} Page devoted to the manufacture of PLUTO by Stewarts and Lloyds of Corby now part of BSC.
{6} In 1910, Stewarts and Lloyds, the largest producer of steel pipes and tubes in the country began to look at areas where the mining of ironstone and production of iron and steel could be integrated at a single site. It was not until 1927 that Corby was put forward, but by 1933 site clearance had begun. Initially, there was little accommodation for the thousands of men who flooded into the area for work and, apparently, some were reduced to sleeping in hedgerows. By the end of the 1930s significant numbers of houses had been built, the first in Bessemer Grove.
{7}{8} A steel tube some 30ft (9m) high representing the Corby Candle, the exhaust pipe used to burn off waste gases, has been placed at the side of the road near the centre of the site of the former steelworks.
{11} Promotional video for Stewart & Lloyd's Iron & Steel Company (also providing a brief history of the industry).
<1> STARMER G., List of Industrial Sites in Northamptonshire (Various, Including N.R.I.M.), (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1444.
<2> Hill P., 1998, Corby: The Second Selection, p.89 (unchecked) (Book). SNN104592.
<3> Stewarts & Lloyds Limited, An Industrial War Record, (checked) (Extract). SNN104593.
<4> Searle A., 1995?, P.L.U.T.O. Pipeline Under The Sea, (unchecked) (Book). SNN104594.
<5> 1978, Northamptonshire At War 1939-45, A Selection Of Photographs, p.70 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100251.
<6> Walker, C., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Heritage Assessment of Land at Forest Gate, Corby, Northamptonshire, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN108523.
<7> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, Site 68 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.
<8> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), Site 70 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.
<9> STARMER G., 1970, Ironworks in Northamptonshire, p. 30-33 (Article). SNN56646.
<10> Page, M and Bristow, M, 2013, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: A History of the County of Northampton: Corby and Great Oakley (Book). SNN115418.
<11> Stewart & Lloyd's Iron Ore Co, 1956, Iron Ore in Britain (Video). SNN116818.
Sources/Archives (11)
- <1> SNN1444 Catalogue: STARMER G.. List of Industrial Sites in Northamptonshire (Various, Including N.R.I.M.). (unchecked).
- <2> SNN104592 Book: Hill P.. 1998. Corby: The Second Selection. p.89 (unchecked).
- <3> SNN104593 Extract: Stewarts & Lloyds Limited. An Industrial War Record. Eric Bembrose, Ltd. (checked).
- <4> SNN104594 Book: Searle A.. 1995?. P.L.U.T.O. Pipeline Under The Sea. Shanklin Chine. (unchecked).
- <5> SNN100251 Book: 1978. Northamptonshire At War 1939-45, A Selection Of Photographs. Northamptonshire Librarie. p.70 (unchecked).
- <6> SNN108523 Report: Walker, C.. 2013. Archaeological Desk-Based Heritage Assessment of Land at Forest Gate, Corby, Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. 13/07. Northants Archaeology. p.7 (checked).
- <7> SNN104759 Gazetteer: Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group. 2001. A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire. John Stanley Publishers. Site 68 (checked).
- <8> SNN107622 Gazetteer: Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group. 2011. A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition). John Stanley Publishers. Site 70 (checked).
- <9> SNN56646 Article: STARMER G.. 1970. Ironworks in Northamptonshire. CBA Group 9 Bulletin of Industrial Archaeology. 11. CBA. p. 30-33.
- <10> SNN115418 Book: Page, M and Bristow, M. 2013. The Victoria History of the Counties of England: A History of the County of Northampton: Corby and Great Oakley. VII. VCH.
- <11> SNN116818 Video: Stewart & Lloyd's Iron Ore Co. 1956. Iron Ore in Britain.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (8)
- Parent of: Bessemer steel plant, Corby Steelworks (Monument) (6302/1/6)
- Parent of: Corby Steelworks Water Tower (Building) (6302/1/2)
- Parent of: Gas Purification and Holder Station, Corby Steelworks (Monument) (6302/1/9)
- Parent of: Mineral Railways Associated With Ironworks/Steelworks (Monument) (6302/2)
- Parent of: Possible Quarry Pits (Monument) (6302/1/3)
- Parent of: Rolling mills, Corby Steelworks (Monument) (6302/1/8)
- Parent of: Strip mill, Corby Steelworks (Monument) (6302/1/7)
- Parent of: Tube works, Corby Steelworks (Monument) (6302/1/8)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
Grid reference | SP 896 895 (point) Approximate |
---|---|
Civil Parish | CORBY, North Northamptonshire (formerly Corby District) |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- None recorded
Record last edited
May 12 2025 3:03PM