Finedon Slabs
The best and also the worst crag in Northamptonshire
The best and also the worst crag in Northamptonshire
Also known as The Pyramids and The Crusher
The only crag in Northamptonshire and perhaps also the worst crag in the universe? This is another crag that has traditionally appeared in Leicestershire climbing guidebooks. Finedon Slabs is the concrete remains of the crushing and loading plant of an old ironstone workings. Rock would be tipped from the higher level and the slabs acted as a chute which carried the rock to trucks in the area below. The trucks would then deliver the rock to Irthlingborough via tunnels.
Several of the recorded lines are only 5 to 6 meters tall and may make for boulder problems. If you do attempt to climb here then beware of syringes and other dangerous fly-tipped refuse. It is included here almost exclusively for comedic value, but perhaps equally comical adventures could be had by those determined few who sucessfully manage to climb here.
For more information on the plant see the History of the Irthlingborough Iron Ore Mine website.
Several of the recorded lines are only 5 to 6 meters tall and may make for boulder problems. If you do attempt to climb here then beware of syringes and other dangerous fly-tipped refuse. It is included here almost exclusively for comedic value, but perhaps equally comical adventures could be had by those determined few who sucessfully manage to climb here.
For more information on the plant see the History of the Irthlingborough Iron Ore Mine website.
Topo can be found on the online version of the old Leicestershire Climbs website.
Parking: Park courteously on Orchard Road, Finedon NN9 5DY.
Approach: Walk down St Mary's Avenue. About 100m down the lane, just past a green fence, turn left along a footpath. The "crag" can be seen after 100 yards of footpath. You may have to negotiate a fence to gain access.
Approach: Walk down St Mary's Avenue. About 100m down the lane, just past a green fence, turn left along a footpath. The "crag" can be seen after 100 yards of footpath. You may have to negotiate a fence to gain access.
Pictures by AditNow.co.uk and BikinGlynn of DerilictPlaces.co.uk
Without doubt, the most dismal place I've had the displeasure to try and climb.
Finedon Slabs is absolutely gross. A graffiti-ridden rubbish tip. I once drove all the way there with a friend from London because there was a totally misleading write-up in a climbing mag about it. Never again!
In darkest wild Northamptonshire
There’s hidden, as they say
A charming little craglet
That’s out near Finedon way.
One weekend we went there
With ropes and nuts and crabs -
The finest crag in Northamptonshire,
The famous Finedon Slabs!
Mick soloed up a corner
But very near the top
The ravening vegetation
Caused his ascent to stop.
Eventually off he fell
As the brambles raked his arm
But he hit a rotting mattress
And bounced up without harm!
We tried to climb the parapet
But found with cursing fear
Its crumbling concrete holes
Would not take our gear.
But then we found salvation
A rusting metal bar
Wedged into the concrete
A runner without par!
I gibbered up Sun Slab
But just to hamper things
Right before the top
I went and dropped my slings.
But the belay was in-situ
Which did just fine for me –
A pair of dirty knickers
Wrapped around a tree!
So it’s litter-strewn and concrete
With rubbish all about
But the best crag in the county
Without any doubt.
Why drive to Stanage polish
Or North Wales in the clag?
Come and climb at Finedon –
It’s a very friendly crag!
