Monument record 4143/1 - Late Saxon/Medieval Ironstone Workings

Site of ironworks. Three slag heaps identified which have been radiocarbon dated to the late Saxon/medieval period.

{1} (SP 89409284). The presence of iron working at this site and in general is discussed in this reference, including the location of a slag heap;

{2} Three iron slag mounds about 20 yards diameter and 6 feet high with a lot of slag and burnings. A single sherd of medieval pottery. Probably medieval.

{3} Gretton (SP 8943 9280) This site consisted of three well-defined slag mounds, at present being eroded by ploughing. The slag spread from these mounds over areas of 1300 sq m, 600 sq m and 375 sq m with undisturbed layers of slag up to 300 mm deep, each lying on a bed of iron fines. Radiocarbon from these gave dates of: AD 1005-1250, AD 885-1020 and AD 1010-1195.

{5, 6} There were ironworks in Gretton in Edward the Confessor's reign; these had lapsed by 1086. Morton mentions "huge heaps of iron slag" at Gretton.

{7} The heaps of iron slag were not located.

<1> Miles, D, 1982, The Romano-British countryside: studies in rural settlement and economy, Part 2, p. 337 (Book). SNN111545.

<2> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Gretton/Site 2 (Database). SNN102279.

<3> Horne B. (Editor), 2001, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (31), p. 38 (Newsletter). SNN112958.

<4> Bellamy B.; Jackson D.; Johnston G., 2000-01, Early Iron Smelting in the Rockingham Forest Area: A Survey of the Evidence, p. 111 & 125 (Article). SNN103947.

<5> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 305 (Series). SNN100368.

<6> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p. 550 (Book). SNN10113.

<7> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 19-MAR-1970 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:19PM