Monument record 2799/3 - Late Saxon Iron Production, east of the Shuckburgh Arms

Excavation revealed a sequence of three quarry pits which had been backfilled with significant quantities of slag, roasted ore 'fines' and furnace lining. Two dated to the mid-10th century, while the third contained largely 14th century pottery, with sag infill dating to the 15th-17th centuries

{1}A series of three pits. The first pit was at least 4.00m by 2.5m and was filled with 21 alternating layers of roasted ore 'fines' and tap slag intermixed with occasional pieces of fired clay furnace lining. Sherds of early to mid-10th century Stamford Ware were recovered from the bottom layer.

The second pit measured 4.5x2.5m and was dug into natural sand and limestone to a depth of 0.98m. The feature had gradually filled up with occupational debris, which included three layers of burning in situ. These black lenses contained small amounts of roasted ore fines, slag and furnace lining. It was evident by the reddened clay beneath one large piece of tap slag that it had been placed into the pit when still hot and had ignited combustible material. Associated pottery was exclusively St Neot's ware and Stamford ware of early 10th century date.

The third pit measured 3.56x5.2m and appeared to be a quarry pit possibly for marl, sand, or flat limestone similar to Collyweston stone slates. The pit had been backfilled to a large extent with marl but also contained limestone rubble and occupational debris including pottery dated to the late 14th century. The upper fill had been added later, pottery from these layers was of 15th-17th century date. The remains of a small smelting surface had been set on a heap of blue clay. The clay had baked hard ot a depth of 14cm forming a shallow bowl about 20-30cm in diameter, survival was poor and its exact dimensions could not be determined. The pit was not excavated but its depth was a minimum of 1.2m deep. Slag and roasted ore fines was noted at the deepest noted layers.

A well preserved base of a 13th or 14th century oven, built with limestone rubble and floored with limestone slabs, the floor had been damaged in Jubilee Year (1890-1977?) when a flag pole had been erected through its centre. The oven had been set into the top of the first pit.

{5} The remnants of an iron smelting furnace, slag and an ironstone quarry were excavated in the drive to the house immediately east of the public house; the features were backfilled with late Saxon pottery.

<1> Johnston AG. Bellamy B. and Foster PJ., 2000-01, Excavations at Southwick, Northamptonshire, 1996, P136 (Article). SNN103948.

<2> 1998, Monuments Protection Programme: Bloomery Iron Industry (Provisional Step 2 Shortlist), p.26 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN46996.

<3> Crossley D., 1998, Monuments Protection Programme: Iron and Steel Industries (Site Assessments), 1.8 (unchecked) (Report). SNN106761.

<4> Crossley D., 1998, Monuments Protection Programme: Iron and Steel Industries (Step 3, Appendix 3, Handlist of Assessed Sites), 1.8 p.35 (unchecked) (Report). SNN106760.

<5> Kidd A., 1995, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49438.

<6> Johnston, G, 1995, Southwick Iron Smelting (Letter). SNN112864.

Record last edited

Jan 20 2022 8:52AM