Monument record 8465/3/1 - Woodfield Mine (Slipton Group)

{1} Sketch plan of layout of quarries and mines at Slipton on p.112.
In 1901 the company wrote to the Drayton Estate that the cover was so deep at Sheep Pens Pit that extraction had ceased and that they were looking into the possibility of mining instead of open quarrying, and therefore seeking a reduction in royalty because of the increased costs of mining. Mining commenced in 1902, the three mines openend were Crops Acre, Willow Close and Woodfield. The latter was reached by a branch on the east of the main tramway, with an adit in Lower Sheep Pens Close. This may mean that this mine was the earliest, though it was never developed to the same extent as the others, and ceased production on 29th July 1915. It had one ventilation shaft.
The original adit in Woodfield Mine (approximately SP953801), was served by an extension of the 3ft quarry line, but evidently this was found to be too wide for the restricted bore of the tunnels and was replaced by a separate tramway of 2ft 6ins gauge, from which ore had to be transferred to the 3ft gauge.

<1> Tonks E., 1991, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Kettering Area, p.112+114+131-2 (checked) (Book). SNN44039.

Record last edited

Feb 1 2013 11:30AM