Monument record 8422/1/8 - Ironstone Quarry (Roman Town Pit)

{1} Trenches 28 and 29 located the edge of a former quarry at depths of respectively 0.25m and 0.16m-0.21m below the restored field surface. In field 2 trenches 10-12 confiremd the outline of an additional restored quarry. Its edges coincide approx with a series of undulations in the surface of the field.

{2} Confirmation of the areas which were quarried for ironstone in modern times is clearly demonstrated by irregularites in the pattern of geophysics readings.

{3} Geophysics results indicate high magnetic readings which possibly denote infilling from the re-instated quarry. However quarrying activity appeared not to have taken place on the scale previously believed.,Traces of edge of former open-cast quarry discerned within 40-60m of southern limit of modern field boundary; extraction of iron ore in 1928/9; site later backfilled; quarrying may have encroached slightly on sequence of possible early Iron Age enclosures;,Trial trenching confirmed location of quarry - quarry backfill material found in 6 of 7 trenches.

{5} The quarry edge was observed as a gently sloping cut into the natural ironstone. This may be an indication of either the process of quarrying, or the access into the old quarry for backfilling. The backfill contained rubble which included a number of firebricks.

<1> Dix B.N., 1991, Archaeological Evaluation at Irchester, Northants, 1990-91, p.26 (checked) (Report). SNN1694.

<2> Dix B., 1994, Further Archaeological Investigation at Irchester Roman Town, Northamptonshire, 1994, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN4157.

<3> Masters, P., 1995, SMR report form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49589.

<4> Tonks E., 1990, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Wellingborough Area, p.29-68 (unchecked) (Book). SNN45742.

<5> Foard A., 2004, An Archaeological Watching Brief on Geotechnical Test Pits & Trial Trenches at Victoria Business Park, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN104978.

Record last edited

Dec 10 2014 3:04PM