Thanks for piecing this all together, fab! My great grandfather spent time working on the Wellingborough iron works company's railway. My Dad recalls how he would come home from work, completely black with soot from head to toe.
Brilliant video! I knew there was a lot of stuff that went on, I never realised how close to Wellingborough it got. Probably explains why I've always felt the Nene Valley between Wellingborough & Rushden and the Sidegate Lane area seemed so tired and washed out. I remember some kids getting trapped down the mines in the early 70's, it made the national news. Must grab a copy of that book when I'm next over, me & my mate met Eric Tonks back in the 80's cos we were interested in the old ironstone quarries. Glad you're documenting this, we didn't learn much about it in school, just stories from teachers and the old folks.
Yh great stuff ah.. I Heard Eric was an absolute legend. I wish I had the chance to meet him. I hope he is watching down on my discoveries with pride bless him
Brilliant video Purple and by putting them into 6 sections it put all the videos you’ve done in the past into some context and you’ve explained it all very well. Well done and can’t wait till you do your next adventure 👏👏👏👍
Grew up in Finedon in the 70's and 80's and as kids we used to go into the tunnels at the top of Harrowden road also the one opposite the entrance to the cemetery on station road and the one that went underneath the A6 in the first field coming out of Finedon towards burton, we went in the mines down the pits and generally just hung out in them all, all the old loco buildings and hanging out in Finedon Hall when it was derelict and boarded up and you had to break in to get in there , none of the tunnels were filled in all were wide open to explore, as a kid it was a heavenly place to grow up in the 70's when your parents would boot you out in the morning and you wouldnt come back until teatime, with all the ironstone quarries, The pits the tunnels, the old railway line over to wellingborough, it was a true outdoor wonderland, looking back now i realise how great it was to grow up there and how very special it was as a kid to be able to do all that stuff that now H&S would not let you anywhere near any of it.
There’s quite a good video on UA-cam Called “industrial steam railways” the very first clip is at Byfield quarry and shows “Cherwell” the bagnall which is now preserved at the rushden Higham and Wellingborough railway, I believe there are parts showing the Finedon and irchester quarry systems in the mid 60’s
It's another cally bank mate it means where the Iron ore was burnt in big heaps to remove impurities so must of been an earlier Calsining clamp. Before the later cally banks. Irchester country park has a great example of what used to be known as Red Mountain as it burnt all night and day. Great video again mate 👍 I truly can't believe the scale of the Quarrying around this area. And Eric Tonks has a train dedicated to him at Rock by Rail in Rutland. We'll worth a visit ;)
Ah nice but the origination of Cally Banks is actually because it was built on an arboretum of Finedon Hall estate. Majority of the trees were imports from California ie. The Great Squoia tree. We are going Irchester country park tomorrow so I'll explain all about it. Cheers
What a wonderful round-up, I''ll need to watch it a bit at a time - hope that that doesn't bork your YT stats. I remember the TNT store video! Finedon Mill looked beautiful 🙁 You're actually getting into Landscape Archaeology - dunno if you realise it. Also Industrial Archaeology, but that's more digging. When I have some time that's what I'd be interested in getting in to.
I tell you a fact about stone you may not know: Ionstone is a name given to any type of stone that has Ion in it. The ion found in stone is normally found in both Sandstone and Limestone. When stone is queried or mined for ion its normally a Sandstone or Limestone that's queried or mined and when you see a railway wagon loaded with stone for a ion works it's normally loaded with Limestone or Sandstone. Anyway your film is really good thank you for making it and sharing it.
The Volta Tower, a very impressive building, mentioned on that tourist information sign may well have been a actual casualty of the iron ore quarrying. By 1951 the giant iron ore excavators had got perilously close to the Tower as photos in the local press just prior to that show. It collapsed very suddenly in that year but that tourist sign board merely states the cause of it was that the Tower had been built without using mortar. However as it been there since the year 1865 it is just possible that the disturbance of the ground and the vibrations, destabilisation etc caused by the excavators may have greatly contributed to its sudden collapse. I don't think there was any real investigation into the Tower's collapse back then but it is a very sad story as one of its resident's, a Mrs Florence Northen, was killed in the collapse.
Yh a father lost his son when a British Naval ship called the Volta sunk. He built that tower in honour. Buccluch quarry was ridiculously close to the tower and I believe it's the reason for it's collapse. The fact that there was no mortar was used as a kind of scape goat for the ironstone pioneers. I believe anyway. Parts of the Volta tower we have on display at Wellingborough Museum. I'm there every Monday and Saturday should you desire a grand tour 😉
I was always told that the Squire of Finedon didn't like the railway so would not let it be built on his land. That was, apparently why Finedon Station is so far from Finedon, and why there is a large bend in the railway line coming to Finedon.
The squire of Finedon sold off land to the railway to pay off debt against Finedon Hall. The industrial railway from the pocket park cut through half of the holly walks. I'm not to sure how true your story is but I'll dig into it a little. Thank you
Another brilliant video Purple. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Peter. Thanks for watching
Fantastic video Purple. I love our local history!
Thanks buddy, me to
This video was epic!
Thanks Alfie
Fantastic, informative video Purple, can't wait for the next one.😉👍❤️
Thanks Jon. Yh set the bar with this one and I'll struggle to top that mi thinks.
Loving this vid, read Eric Tonks book been interested ever since in the iron ore mines, particularly the Finedon area. Cracking info thanks Purple!
Finedon really shocked me, amazing to think how much came out of the ground up there. Mental
Thanks for the compliment. That book has become my new bible 😂😂😂
Thanks for piecing this all together, fab! My great grandfather spent time working on the Wellingborough iron works company's railway. My Dad recalls how he would come home from work, completely black with soot from head to toe.
Great stuff. You sparked something in me when you mentioned it was the 60th anniversary of Wellingborough Iron Works closing. Thank you for that ☺️
Very good video purple, lots of interesting information,thanks for sharing
You legend. Thanks for watching
37:00: that's fell in since I went in there
I thought as much. From what you mentioned I thought it was a bit if a cavern
Awesome Awesome video purple
Thank you Michael
Brilliant video! I knew there was a lot of stuff that went on, I never realised how close to Wellingborough it got. Probably explains why I've always felt the Nene Valley between Wellingborough & Rushden and the Sidegate Lane area seemed so tired and washed out. I remember some kids getting trapped down the mines in the early 70's, it made the national news. Must grab a copy of that book when I'm next over, me & my mate met Eric Tonks back in the 80's cos we were interested in the old ironstone quarries. Glad you're documenting this, we didn't learn much about it in school, just stories from teachers and the old folks.
Yh great stuff ah.. I Heard Eric was an absolute legend. I wish I had the chance to meet him. I hope he is watching down on my discoveries with pride bless him
Brilliant video Purple and by putting them into 6 sections it put all the videos you’ve done in the past into some context and you’ve explained it all very well. Well done and can’t wait till you do your next adventure 👏👏👏👍
Thanks Keith. I thought it would be the best way to explain it
Grew up in Finedon in the 70's and 80's and as kids we used to go into the tunnels at the top of Harrowden road also the one opposite the entrance to the cemetery on station road and the one that went underneath the A6 in the first field coming out of Finedon towards burton, we went in the mines down the pits and generally just hung out in them all, all the old loco buildings and hanging out in Finedon Hall when it was derelict and boarded up and you had to break in to get in there , none of the tunnels were filled in all were wide open to explore, as a kid it was a heavenly place to grow up in the 70's when your parents would boot you out in the morning and you wouldnt come back until teatime, with all the ironstone quarries, The pits the tunnels, the old railway line over to wellingborough, it was a true outdoor wonderland, looking back now i realise how great it was to grow up there and how very special it was as a kid to be able to do all that stuff that now H&S would not let you anywhere near any of it.
Just watched this video again what was that book you had in it , cheers
Eric Tony's Ironstone quarries of the midlands Vol.4
There’s quite a good video on UA-cam Called “industrial steam railways” the very first clip is at Byfield quarry and shows “Cherwell” the bagnall which is now preserved at the rushden Higham and Wellingborough railway, I believe there are parts showing the Finedon and irchester quarry systems in the mid 60’s
I'll check it out.
It's another cally bank mate it means where the Iron ore was burnt in big heaps to remove impurities so must of been an earlier Calsining clamp. Before the later cally banks. Irchester country park has a great example of what used to be known as Red Mountain as it burnt all night and day. Great video again mate 👍 I truly can't believe the scale of the Quarrying around this area. And Eric Tonks has a train dedicated to him at Rock by Rail in Rutland. We'll worth a visit ;)
Ah nice but the origination of Cally Banks is actually because it was built on an arboretum of Finedon Hall estate. Majority of the trees were imports from California ie. The Great Squoia tree.
We are going Irchester country park tomorrow so I'll explain all about it. Cheers
What a wonderful round-up, I''ll need to watch it a bit at a time - hope that that doesn't bork your YT stats.
I remember the TNT store video!
Finedon Mill looked beautiful 🙁
You're actually getting into Landscape Archaeology - dunno if you realise it. Also Industrial Archaeology, but that's more digging. When I have some time that's what I'd be interested in getting in to.
I tell you a fact about stone you may not know: Ionstone is a name given to any type of stone that has Ion in it. The ion found in stone is normally found in both Sandstone and Limestone. When stone is queried or mined for ion its normally a Sandstone or Limestone that's queried or mined and when you see a railway wagon loaded with stone for a ion works it's normally loaded with Limestone or Sandstone.
Anyway your film is really good thank you for making it and sharing it.
I love that. Great information thank you
The Volta Tower, a very impressive building, mentioned on that tourist information sign may well have been a actual casualty of the iron ore quarrying.
By 1951 the giant iron ore excavators had got perilously close to the Tower as photos in the local press just prior to that show.
It collapsed very suddenly in that year but that tourist sign board merely states the cause of it was that the Tower had been built without using mortar.
However as it been there since the year 1865 it is just possible that the disturbance of the ground and the vibrations, destabilisation etc caused by the excavators may have greatly contributed to its sudden collapse.
I don't think there was any real investigation into the Tower's collapse back then but it is a very sad story as one of its resident's, a Mrs Florence Northen, was killed in the collapse.
Yh a father lost his son when a British Naval ship called the Volta sunk. He built that tower in honour. Buccluch quarry was ridiculously close to the tower and I believe it's the reason for it's collapse. The fact that there was no mortar was used as a kind of scape goat for the ironstone pioneers. I believe anyway. Parts of the Volta tower we have on display at Wellingborough Museum. I'm there every Monday and Saturday should you desire a grand tour 😉
Didn't know there were so many tunnels in Finedon. You can hear the Brook under finedon under a manhole in front of the Infant school
I love Finedon. I think the brook runs lower down than that though
@@PurpleVision23 I'm sure my dad told me it was a Brook there. Can definatly hear constant flowing water. Might be something else.
I was always told that the Squire of Finedon didn't like the railway so would not let it be built on his land. That was, apparently why Finedon Station is so far from Finedon, and why there is a large bend in the railway line coming to Finedon.
The squire of Finedon sold off land to the railway to pay off debt against Finedon Hall. The industrial railway from the pocket park cut through half of the holly walks. I'm not to sure how true your story is but I'll dig into it a little. Thank you