Page 20 - Jigsaw June 2021
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A GLANCE AT THE PAST
Minerals and quarries to furnaces and trains...
The Islip quarries, mines and furnaces business began in 1869 with the formation of the Islip Iron Ore Company. Between then and closure and demolition of the furnaces site in 1950, this large concern had many names including Islip Iron Co. Ltd., Stewart and Lloyds Ltd. and Stewart and Lloyds Minerals Ltd.
An extensive network of over 10 miles
of 3’ narrow gauge railways radiated from the furnaces to quarries and mines as far as Twywell, Slipton, Sudborough, Lowick and Woodford. Two views of the furnaces are shown, the first from the early 1900’s, the second a little later.
The history of this massive concern is much too great to give more than the basic details
here. For a much fuller discourse I highly recommend reading Eric Tonks masterpiece writings on the Ironstone quarries of the Midlands, specifically Volume 5 covering the
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