Site record MDR24010 - Site of Farm Buildings and Buildings Associated With Ironworkds, Off Clay Lane, Clay Cross

Former site of farm buildings and buildings associated with ironworks, off Clay Lane, Clay Cross, originally an 18th century building complex. During an evaluation, and an area excavation that immediately followed, the remains of three buildings were recorded, buildings that are shown on historic mapping. The complex was interpreted to have originally been a farmhouse and outbuildings. 'From the mid-19th century onwards, the buildings were used by the George Stephenson and Co., probably for reasons associated with the nearby colliery and ironworks established with the construction of the Midland Main Line. Most of the walls survived only to their foundation courses. The main detached building on the eastern side of the site contained the remains of two cellars, one of which likely functioned as a coal store. The buildings on the site were… demolished by the time of the 1970 OS map…' At ground or foundation level, the residence building was comprised of six rooms, the floors were mostly of flag stone, some in a squared checkerboard pattern. An oven was located on the eastern wall. The cellar floors were stone slabs. An arched opening for a light well in one cellar was found, and shelving where a stone war jar was recovered. Several jar fragments and bottles were among the finds. Finds also included glass, metal, clay tobacco pipes, a George III half penny, and late 18th to 19th century pottery. (1) The southern range was interpreted as having primarily been for storage, and the larger western range was interpreted as 'industrial units.' (1)