Monument record 2864/1/4 - Possible Limestone or Ironstone Pits (Pit Holes)

{1} Old workings at Wothorpe Groves southwest of the village “now completely overgrown”. Traces can be seen among the trees, but it is not clear whether these are Lumby’s pits as the site has not been otherwise identified. The open pasture east of Wothorpe Groves also bears evidence of disturbance, with hollows, gullets and clumps of nettles. (A much more impressive quarry face runs a third of a mile alongside the A1, just inside Burghley Park. This could have been for limestone rather than ironstone, and could have utilised a narrow gauge tramway, though at Wothorpe Groves there seems no possibility of a tramway having been used.)

{2} Undated Quarry Pits (RFP Survey).

[SMR note 30/01/2012: Pit Holes (east of Wothorpe Groves) appears to have been considered to be old ironstone pits, however the early C19th OS surveyors' drawings suggest that they may have been sited along the narrow seam of limestone used for Collyweston Slate.]

<1> Tonks E., 1992, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Corby Area, p.289-90 (part checked) (Book). SNN39836.

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

Record last edited

Jan 30 2012 5:04PM