Monument record 8421/1/1 - C19th Ironstone Quarry

{2} Break of slope as observed in ploughed field. Former 19th/20th century quarry edge.

{4} The most easterly field of the survey had previously been identified as containing an extensive late Roman cemetery, which was disturbed by ironstone quarrying in the 19th century. The magnetic data retrieved from Field 6 has a bland quality not encountered over the rest of the survey area. The central and eastern parts of Field 6 contain broad negative magnetic anomalies, aligned generally north-west to south-east. These may indicate the remnants of windrows of waste material created parallel to the working face by the ‘plank and barrow’ method of ironstone extraction along narrow successive strips as employed in the 19th century (Fig 9). Intense positive anomalies detected around the quarrying area are likely to represent buried ferrous items, possibly connected with extractive industrial processes.

<1> Cadman G., 1993, Irchester, Chester Farm: Conservation Survey Archive Report, (checked) (Report). SNN105154.

<2> CADMAN G.E., 1990, Irchester: field survey notes November 1990, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN55223.

<3> Tonks E., 1990, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Wellingborough Area, (unchecked) (Book). SNN45742.

<4> Butler A.; Meadows I.; Fisher I., 2010, Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire, p.12 (checked) (Report). SNN107215.

<5> Carr, D., 2011, Irchester Ironstone Quarries: Key Dates and Events, (unchecked) (Book). SNN108267.

Record last edited

Dec 1 2014 3:03PM