Monument record 8395/1 - Gayton Quarries (Wheldon)

{1} Little is known of this quarry but H.W.Wheldon is recorded in operation of extraction on the site from 1863 to 1884 and the quarry is disused in 1885.There is thought to be a tramway running from the quarry southeast to the the old SMJ line (Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Line) just south of the Gayton to Blisworth road. It would seem feasible to transfer ore at this point but on visiting this point it showes that the cutting is 60ft deep and shovelling is out of the question. Local enquiries reveal that Wheldon used wagons on removable bodies with skids for them to be lowered down the bank and to be tipped or shovelled out at the botttom. It is also possible some ore was carried from Gayton in wagons to the canal at Blisworth where it was loaded on to barges. The quarry site is still slightly hummocky but otherwise there is no trace of the tramway.

<1> Tonks E., 1989, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Northampton Area, p.39 (unchecked) (Book). SNN47272.

Record last edited

Apr 29 2009 6:00PM