Monument record 1843/0/1 - Furnace, Romano-British or Medieval

Ancient ironworks (site of)

{1} In about 1882 an old smelting furnace, consisting of a circular chamber with a lump of iron in the bottom, was discovered during ironstone mining. No dating evidence was noted and the site may be either Roman or medieval.

{2} A primitive smelting furnace was found during observations during ironstone quarrying the the late 19th century. It consisted of a circular chamber cut into the natural clay with a lump of iron in the bottom. The furnace has been much used as the clay had been baked red for a considerable distance around it.

{2, 3, 4} An ancient smelting-furnace was found c. 1882 near the iron-smelting works of Mr Plevins (Islip Iron Co, SP 970 782 (2)(3)). It consisted of a circular chamber in the natural clay; at its bottom, a lump of iron weighing about 1cwt was found, and may be seen at the Islip works. The clay baked red for some distances round it.

{5} Islip Iron Works are no longer in existence. The site is now mainly waste ground with light industries using the buildings; nothing of archaeological interest was seen during field investigation.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.59 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> 1882, Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries, 9/89-91 (checked) (Note). SNN36225.

<3> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p. 757 (Book). SNN1002.

<4> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 215 (Series). SNN100370.

<5> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 30-OCT-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<6> Newspaper article (Title/date), Northampton Independent 11-Dec 1909 28 (Article). SNN59652.

Record last edited

Jun 8 2023 12:10PM