Monument record 8403 - Duston Quarries

{1} Owners from 1854 Duston Iron Ore Co., from 1859 George Pell, from 1863 G.E.Beavan & Co.Ltd., from 1872 Northampton Iron Co., from 1880 Henry Higgins, from 1885 Duston Iron Ore Co.Ltd.,until closure in 1908. The thick seam of ore in the area was discovered at least by 1851 if not two years earlier but no extraction took place before 1855. The earliest tramway went across the Nene Valley at Duston Mill to a wharf at the Grand Junction Canal and sidings at the LNWR Northampton to Blisworth line. Part of the tramway went direct from the quarry to the local Stensons Foundry. The tramway across the Duston Mill valley was set on woodern trestles because of the occassional flooding that occurrs in this area. By 31st March 1908 most of the stone had been worked out as the lease expired on this date it was decided to seek permission to work out what remained on the existing site in the six months allowed for the removal of plant. Quarrying presumably came to an end about 30th September 1908.

<1> Tonks E., 1989, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Northampton Area, p.90-105 (unchecked) (Book). SNN47272.

Record last edited

Nov 2 2010 3:27PM