Hunsbury Hill has a long history of ironstone quarrying and from the 1800’s that industry was supported by the railways.
OS mapping details the expansion of the tracks and tramways to the remains of what you wil see today at Northampton Ironstone Railway Trust (NIRT).
Each map is linked to the original source where you can navigate the map further – scroll to zoom in/out, right click and hold to move around.
Northamptonshire sheet XLIV.SE published in 1885 and surveyed from 1883 to 1884.
Northamptonshire Sheet XLIV.SE 6″
Surveyed: 1883 to 1884, Published: 1885
(Copyright National Library of Scotland)
Here the Hunsbury Hill Iron works is shown with the connection to the London & North Western Railway at Blisworth Junction and the Duston siding. To the south east the ironworks track extends to Danes Camp.
You’ll notice the scale of the maps is quite detailed and even the locations of the signal posts are marked.
Northamptonshire sheet XLIV.SE published in 1901 and revised 1899.
Northamptonshire Sheet XLIV.SE 6″
Revised: 1899, Published: 1901
(Copyright National Library of Scotland)
A tramway now extends Northwards forking NW to the ironstone quarries between Upton and Duston St. James and NE to what appears to be sidings and a shed. To the south east the track has altered to run North of Hunsbury Hill and onwards to what appears to be quarrying near to the Hunsbury Hill tunnel air shaft.
1923 and Northamptonshire sheet XLIV.SE published in 1927.
Northamptonshire Sheet XLIV.SE 6″
Revised: 1923, Published: 1927
(Copyright National Library of Scotland)
The railway connecting to the iron works is now the L.M.&.S.R. (LMS) Northampton & Peterborough Branch. The tramway extending Northwards has now gone, as has the extended track near to Hunsbury Hill Camp. The tramway to camp now heads northwards for a short distance then doubles back on itself. A windpump is marked by the track.
You can also see a new tramway to the west of Camp heading over the Hunsbury Hill tunnel and round to Wottonhill farm.
Just before Wootton Hill Farm the track forks with both going off the map….to be investigated!
The Hunsbury Hill Iron Works tracks have also expanded.
To be continued…..