Weldon Stone Quarries

Overview

Building-stone quarries covering some 25 hectares south and south-west of Weldon, working the Upper Lincolnshire Limestone. Weldon stone has been quarried at least since the medieval period and probably since Roman times, and it is the one local building material that was used extensively far beyond the region — in the old St Paul’s Cathedral, in the restoration of Exeter and Rochester, and through the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. It was mined underground as well as quarried, and the deserted underground workings survive on both sides of the Kettering to Stamford road. A small area is still worked.

History

The quarries are old enough that their beginning is not recorded: worked at least since the medieval period and probably since Roman times. The documentary record starts in the thirteenth century, and it starts with names. Stone is said to have provided the material for the Geddington Cross, and in the Rockingham Castle accounts for 1275 Edward Geoffrey, the quarryman, was paid 8s 2d for cutting 700 freestones at Weldon. Master Thomas of Weldon did more than sell stone: he provided skilled stone-cutters and layers along with a number of unskilled workers, and personally directed their work — a medieval contractor as well as a quarry owner. What distinguishes Weldon among Northamptonshire stones is reach. It was the only local building material employed extensively beyond the region, said to have been used in the old St Paul’s Cathedral destroyed in the Great Fire. It has since gone into the restoration of Exeter and Rochester cathedrals, into Uppingham and Oundle schools, Eton College Chapel, the Somerville library and Merton and Oriel colleges at Oxford, and the University Library and Caius, Jesus and Sidney Sussex colleges at Cambridge. The reason is partly economic: the stone is said to be softer than Clipsham stone and consequently cheaper to work.

Geology

The Upper Lincolnshire Limestone of the Inferior Oolite — the same formation that Clipsham works eight miles north, and the comparison between them is the commercial point. Weldon stone is softer than Clipsham and therefore cheaper to cut, which made it the choice where large quantities of workable freestone were wanted rather than the hardest-wearing stone available. The beds were good enough, and thick enough, to be followed underground as well as taken from the surface.

Workings

Open quarries over some 25 hectares, with underground working alongside them: Weldon stone was extensively mined, and old underground workings occur on both sides of the Kettering to Stamford road south-west of the village. Many abandoned quarries survive, together with the remains of some old shafts. The deserted underground quarries lie about a mile south-west of the currently worked ground.

Closure

The quarries have not closed. Most of the ground is abandoned and largely grassed over, but a small area is still being worked — seven centuries after Edward Geoffrey was paid for his 700 freestones.

What remains

Largely grassed-over workings extending over a considerable area, with many abandoned quarries, the remains of old shafts, and deserted underground quarries about a mile south-west of the small area still in production.

Abandoned quarry faces and hollows over some 25 hectares, the remains of old shafts, and the entrances and voids of the underground workings on both sides of the Kettering to Stamford road.

Related mines

• Clipsham Quarry — Both work the Upper Lincolnshire Limestone eight miles apart and were compared directly in the trade: Weldon stone is softer than Clipsham and consequently cheaper to work, which is why the two went to different jobs — Weldon into bulk college and cathedral work, Clipsham where durability in polluted air mattered.
• Ketton Quarry — Two Lincolnshire Limestone freestone quarries within a dozen miles, both supplying the Cambridge colleges from the fourteenth century onwards — Weldon into King’s College Chapel and the University Library, Ketton into many of the college fronts.

Nearby mines

• Corby Ironstone Quarries — 4.1 km W
• Glendon Ironstone Quarries — 11.0 km SW
• Desborough Ironstone Quarries — 13.8 km SW
• Islip Ironstone Quarry — 14.2 km S
• Newbridge Ironstone Quarry — 14.9 km S

Straight-line distance, within 15 km. Show on the map.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Stone quarries covering some 25 hectares lie south and south-west of Weldon. From these quarries came the well-known Weldon Stone, which has been worked at least since the medieval period and probably even since Roman times. ¹
• The stone has been worked since the thirteenth century and is said to have provided the material for the Geddington Cross. In the Rockingham Castle accounts for 1275, Edward Geoffrey the quarryman was paid 8s 2d for cutting 700 freestones at Weldon. ¹
• Master Thomas of Weldon not only sold stone but also provided skilled stone-cutters and layers with a certain number of unskilled workers, and he personally directed their work. ¹
• The only local building material employed extensively beyond the region was the Weldon Stone of the Upper Lincolnshire Limestone, said to have been used in the old St Paul’s Cathedral which was destroyed by fire. (uncertain) ¹
• Weldon stone has been used for the restoration of Exeter and Rochester cathedrals, in Uppingham and Oundle Schools, in Eton College Chapel, in Somerville Library and Merton and Oriel Colleges at Oxford, and in the University Library and Caius, Jesus and Sidney Sussex Colleges at Cambridge. ¹
• The stone is said to be softer than Clipsham Stone and consequently cheaper to work. ¹
• In the past Weldon Stone was extensively mined, and old underground workings occur on both sides of the Kettering to Stamford road, south-west of Weldon. Many abandoned quarries and the remains of some old shafts survive, in addition to a small area which is still being worked. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Monument record 2533/1 — Weldon Limestone Quarries — Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record
2. (secondary) Weldon, Northamptonshire — Wikipedia

Record created: 8 September 2026 · Last researched: 8 September 2026