Monument record 8473/1 - Late C19th Ironstone Quarry (Desborough Iron Ore Co, John Hickman; Stanton Ironworks Co)

The Midland Railway line to Leicester opened in 1857 making accessible a vast area of ironstone. Exploitation at Desborough started in 1859 where the outcrop stone was nibbled away by small operators.

{1} Owner 1859 Desborough Iron Ore Co (John Hickman) from 1873 Stanton Ironworks Co. Ltd., until closure in 1899. John Hickman was the pioneer in Desborough and commenced quarrying shortly after the opening of the Midland Railway line in 1859 with a workforce of 33 men. Although Hickman ceased quarrying in 1862 he retained the lease and 1873 Stantons took over from him in 1873. The quarries lay south of the Midland line east of the Pipewell road bridge and between that and Rushton road. After 1873 the workings extended south of Rushton Road and in February 1876 exposed an Anglo-Saxon burial ground. In 1883 new quarries were begun north of Rushton Road and north of the railway. Workings continued to the north and south of the railway and 1897 Stanton obtained a fresh lease to finalise the workings. Operations were commenced at Rothwell Hill and these Desborough Pits were closed in 1899. Most of these quarries are now lying beneath the town of Desborough.

{2} These were encountered in the trenches excavated in field 1.

<1> Tonks E., 1992, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Corby Area, p.10-12 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39836.

<2> Claire McGlenn, 2015, Archaeological Field Evaluation: Gaultney Farm, Desborough (Report). SNN116407.

Record last edited

Jun 21 2024 11:40AM