Monument record 8429 - Thingdon Quarries & Mines

{1} Owner from 1881 Walter Neilson and from 1911 Wellingborough Iron Co.Ltd., until closure in 1933/4. The first known lease was in the angle between Finedon Road and Harrowden Road in an area of just 22acres.A further lease was enacted in March 1883 for a smaller area north of Harrowden raod and partly in Finedon Park. Neilson quarried some limestone on his more easterly properties and some ironstone in the other areas. Opencast continued upto 1908 when heavy overburden was encountered because of geological faults and experimental headings were driven to test the suitability of the roack for mining. This was successful and mining was introduced but the original owners lacked the expertise in mining methods and soon ceased operating. After standing idle for one year the new company obtained a new lease, reopened the mine until closure in 1929. The most lasting monument to the first owner Neilson lies in Finedon itself where a number of the roads close to and in some cases on, the former quarrying area bear names of Scottish origin :-Summerlee,Kenmuir Road. The sunken ground behind the houses, in some reaching half way up the gardens,indicate the extent of the quarrying.

<1> Tonks E., 1990, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Wellingborough Area, p.83-86 (unchecked) (Book). SNN45742.

Record last edited

Apr 16 2012 4:28PM