Site history

Up until 1980 the area around the Stanwick site was one of the few well preserved landscapes within the middle reaches of the River Nene as much of the site had been used for farmland, mainly pasture for many years.

In 1980, prior to the quarrying of the area and the construction of the adjacent A45, archaeological excavations made several important discoveries within and around the Stanwick lakes site, which included the early prehistoric ceremonial complexes at West Cotton, the extensive and complex Iron Age and Roman Settlement at Stanwick, the Roman settlement at Mallows Cotton and the late Saxon long range at West Cotton.

The Stanwick site and the immediately surrounding area also has an interesting industrial heritage, and is a good example of the changing land uses within this region having been the site of a tannery, a sewage farm and a number of railway stations and sidings.

The lakes site was first opened as a quarry in 1985, with mineral extraction beginning in an area to the northern end of the site. These initial areas were restored, primarily to lakes and surrounding meadow land, with some areas of planting that are now reaching maturity.

East Northamptonshire Council purchased the site from Hansons, who ceased quarrying at the end of 2004.