History of NIRT site at Hunsbury Hill.
100-800 BC – Site of an Iron Age Hillfort with finds dating between 100-300BC. These can be seen in Northampton Museum.
Further online history can be found on the Hunsbury Hill website.
AD1 – Roman Quintus visited the site. Quintus was a Roman General and Statesman who led a rebellion against the Roman Senate on the Iberian Peninsular. The site was used for agriculture and iron smelting, it is unclear when they left.
1631 – The Execution of Mrs Lucas took place in the park – she was Burned At The Stake for poisoning her husband!
1857 – First modern records recognized of iron ore at Hunsbury Hill.
1873 – Hunsbury Ironworks was built next to the canal and the Northampton and Blisworth Railway. The ironworks were owned by Northampton Coal, Iron & Wagon company and processed local iron ore. Sharpe Stewart & Co. loco 2329 ‘Oryza’ arrived at Hunsbury.
1876 – Hunsbury Hill Coal & Iron Company was formed and then taken over by the Phipps family in 1877.
Late 1870’s – The first quarrying was carried out next to the works around 1877 then extended south east of Rothersthorpe Road and a mineral line of 3ft. 8in laid between them – horse drawn. Quarrying was carried out by pick and shovel. More details are found on West Hunsbury Explained website.
1881 – Sharpe Stewart & Co. loco 239 and Hunslet ‘Patience’ arrived at Hunsbury to work the exchange sidings.
1882 & 1880’s – The ancient earthworks of ‘Danes Camp’ was scheduled as an ancient monument under a 1882 Act. Danes camp and surroundings have yielded many artifacts and iron age remnants found. The workings in the area were known as Danes Pit – the big field behind the museum. Many of the items can be seen at Northampton museum.
1897 – Sharp Stewart & Co. loco 133 ‘Billy’ and Hunslets 370 ‘Cardiff’, 456 ‘Bury’ arrive at Hunsbury.
1898 – Sharp Stewart loco 133 ‘Billy’ leaves Hunsbury for Sheffield for Thomas Firth & Sons, steel smelters in Sheffield.
1906 – Hunslet loco 899 ‘Hunsbury’ arrives at Hunsbury.
1912 – Three W. G. Bagnall locomotives (works nos 1955-57) with gauges of 3ft. 8ins obtained to pull the wagons to and from the Wootten pit to the Hunsbury furnaces. 1955 Hardingstone, 1956 Wootton & 1957 Northampton.
1915 – Furnaces damped down because of the state of the pig-iron market and the call up of employees for the war.
1917- Furnaces relit by orders of the ministry of munitions.
1921 – The furnaces were finally blown out on the 28th January 1921. The tramway closed due to a big fall in demand and more profitable enterprises elsewhere, and was left derelict.
Andrew Barclay loco 1333 ‘Whiston’ arrives at Hunsbury.
1935 – Richard Thomas & Co acquired the Ironworks and most of the equipment. In the late 1930’s the narrow gauge railway was lifted and moved to the Finedon area quarries. Loco Wootton and some 20 wagons were taken to help open up Buccleuch site. Two standard gauge locos were cut up to finally close the site.
1937 – Hunslet locos 46 ‘Bury’ and 899 ‘Hunsbury’ scrapped.
1940/41 – Narrow gauge loco Wootton was transferred to Finedon quarries. Locomotives 1955 Hardingstone & 1957 Northampton scrapped.
1940. Loco Wootton scrapped early 1940’s.
1941 – Hunslet loco 370 ‘Cardiff’ scrapped.
early 1940’s – Loco Wootton scrapped.
1968 – Northampton Development Corporation (NDC) propose reinstating part of the narrow gauge railway as an element of interest in Hunsbury Park as part of property expansion in the area. Also proposed was the possibility of having a museum of ironstone workings. This was part of the general interest in Danes Camp iron age fort and general recreation area for the intended 100,000 people to move into the area during the Northampton expansion.
1971 – Rushden Railway society formed with the aim of restoring metre gauge Peckett engines No 87 and No. 86 from Wellingborough Iron Co’s Railway (which itself was a subsidiary of Stanton Iron Co.), but faltered soon after.
1973 – Rushden Railway Society was re-formed as the Northampton Ironstone Railway Trust (NIRT) with a view to enacting the Councils vision. First meeting in the Wagon and Horse pub in Rushden, Alan Clayton elected as chairman.
1974 – Is the year that the NIRT is regarded as officially formed, and anniversaries date from. Hunslet Loco No. 16 acquired and stored at Blackwood lodge
1975 – NIRT was given access to a small area near Green lane (Mere way) to the Northside to assemble items already collected in February 1975.
On the 1st October 1975, the former site of the railway and land were made available to the Trust by the NDC and also the affected Tenant Mr Rose. Pecketts 86 & 87 then moved to NIRT. Meter gauge Peckett No. 85 arrived at NIRT.
Sentinel Locomotive 9369 ‘Musketeer’ arrived at NIRT from Isham quarries in Northamptonshire (Thomas E Gray). Built 1946 for the Royal Ordnance Factory.
Sentinel Locomotive 9365 ‘Belvedere’ also arrives from Thomas E Gray. Built 1946 (maybe 1945*) for William Cory & Son coal merchant.
1975/1976 – Clearing the circular route began with the aim of installing metre gauge track, which whilst doing so uncovered some of the derelict 3ft 8in track. Meter and standard gauge railway laid and a new compound established from the temporary one on the Southside of Green lane near the existing run round loop. 2ft gauge track was also laid opposite the old compound on the south side of green Lane. Hunslet Loco No.16 arrived at NIRT in August 1976. 1976 was the big move from the compound on the other side of the Hunsbury Hill to the site today.
1975 – 2ft gauge locos, 14006 (Lister), 9711, 8969, 8731 (Simplex) arrive.
1977 – Manning Wardle loco 1705 No.14 ‘Brill’ arrives.
Wickham Trolley 6887 arrives and is converted to metre gauge from standard.
Following disagreements with loco owners Peckett No. 85 leaves.
1979 – 2ft gauge railway only ran for one season and then became overgrown. By this time development of the railway had slowed.
8756 simplex 2ft gauge arrives.
1982 – With fresh investment from NDC the circular layout was completed but with standard gauge rather than metre gauge. The branch line up the Hill towards Towcester road (Tescos) was started and gave more interest to the railway.
1980’s – New (Existing compound) built.
1983 – Hibberd ‘Planet’ diesel hydraulic 3967 arrives.
Shed (Museum building today) proposal to NDC in Sept.
1984 April – NDC agree to pay for and build the shed. In July ’84 construction begins and by September ’84 the shed is complete.
1985 – Shed opens to the public.
1986 – 85049 Ruston & Hornsby 2ft gauge arrives at NIRT
1988 – Ruston 88 No 242868 named ‘Muffin’ arrives at NIRT. 217967 Ruston & Hornsby 2ft gauge has temporary home from Knebworth house before returning.
1989 – Hunslet Steam Loco 287, initially named ‘Trym’ renamed to ‘Vigilant’, arrives at NIRT
1990 – 2ft gauge Ruston & Hornsby 85049 leaves NIRT
1991 – Peckett No. 86 leaves NIRT, for Irchester railway.
1992 – 2ft gauge 8756 Simplex leaves NIRT
1993 – 2ft gauge 8969 Simplex leaves NIRT. New (Current) station built at Museum end of the line. Wickham Trolley 6887 left for a private buyer in Cambs 20/03/1993
1994 – 2ft gauge 8731 Simplex leaves NIRT
1992 – January Aveling & Porter loco 8800 ‘Sir Vincent arrived at NIRT
1993 – Peckett No. 87 leaves NIRT, for Irchester railway
1995 – John Cockerill Tramway Loco 2945 ‘Yvonne’ arrived at NIRT. 2ft gauge 9711 simplex leave NIRT
1996 – Leeds Fowler 4220033 Lois (subsequently named Harry after leaving) arrives at the railway. Ruston 88 No 319294 No. 53 named ‘Sir Alfred Wood’ arrives at NIRT. 2ft gauge Lister 4wPM leaves NIRT.
1997 – June Ruston & Hornsby DM 165 locos 327974 named ‘ Shire Lodge’ & 395305 named ‘ Amoco’ arrive.
In November Bagnall steam Loco 2565 arrives.
Aveling & Porter loco 9449 ‘Blue Circle leaves*.
Aveling & Porter loco 8800 ‘Sir Vincent leaves.
010797 leaves for the Nene Valley Railway.
John Cockerill Tramway Loco 2945 ‘Yvonne’ leaves on 25th April for a visit to Nene valley railway. Afterwards moved to The Battlefield Line.
1998 – Fowler 4220001 arrives – named after ‘Charles Wake’, mainstay of the railway in recent years.
Manning Wardle Loco 1705 No.14 ‘Brill’ leaves on 19th October.
New compound fence built December from Grant from Northampton Borough council for £14,000(part of an overall Grant of 17,300), after a large spate of vandalism, including the burning down of the Tunnel station. New fire alarm fitted.
1999 – 25th Anniversary of NIRT.
RBB double decker arrives at the railway.
2000 – June Kitson steam loco 5469 Conway arrives.
2001 September – 3EPB unit arrives in the September after a rushed move to save it from being scrapped, arranged by the Double Decker group.
2001 October – Hudswell Clarke Loco D697 arrives. Autumn June Kitson steam loco ‘Conway’ leaves.
2005 – Concrete sleepers are laid to replace wooden ones on the mainline to Tescos
2007 – Leeds Fowler 4220033 Lois (subsequently named Harry after leaving) leaves for Middleton Railway. Ruston & Hornsby DM 165 locos 327974 named ‘ Shire Lodge’ & 395305 named ‘ Amoco’ leave for the Helston Railway.
2010 – Hunslet 287 Trym/Vigilant leaves.
2017 May – Hudswell Clarke No.750 ‘Waleswood’ steam locomotive arrives.
2019 September – Hudswell Clarke Loco ‘Waleswood’ leaves for Chasewater railway.
2019 December – Thomas Peckett Loco 2130, steam crane and support van arrive.
2020 – Leeds Fowler No. 4200022 arrived in October 2020 and being restored in the wagon shed.
2021 March – Leeds Fowler ‘Flying Falcon’ No. 4220016 arrives and has been restored in the museum workshop.
2021 April – Ruston 88 No. 394014 arrives.
2022 – Ruston 88 No 242868, now named ‘Heather’ arrives and is being restored in museum workshop.
2023 January – Ruston 88 No. 394014 leaves.
2023 February – 4EPB Middle coach S15396 leaves.
2023 March – 4EPB Motor coach S14352 leaves.
2023 1st June – BR 02 Diesel D2867 arrives at NIRT along with 2 box vans.
2024 – 50th Anniversary of NIRT.
2025 12th November – Yorkshire Engine Company diesel electric “1382” arrives.
*Dates to be confirmed after further research.
Further related reading:
Interesting Facebook post mentioning Finedon, Buccleuch, Glendon, Colsterworth (1382’s home quarry) and other quarries mentioned in this timeline. Includes loco photos.
British industrial heritage reference: Grace’s guide.
Industrial Railway Society: Home page.