AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL dig uncovering relics of the industrial revolution hidden beneath a playing field has revealed a previously unknown part of the once famous Milton Ironworks.

Over the last few weeks, archaeologists have worked with staff from Barnsley Museums and local people at the Milton Forge playing fields between Elsecar and Hoyland.

They were looking for traces of the area’s forgotten industrial past, as part of the National Lottery-funded Great Place Wentworth and Elsecar project.

The dig is now complete, and in its final days, they uncovered the remains of a calcining kiln, an oven for roasting iron ore before it was smelted in blast furnaces.

It is thought this was one of a series of kilns used at the works, although their location was unknown.

Richard Jackson, principal archaeologist with ArcHeritage, said: “The dig has been really exciting.

“The geophysics that Historic England did last year showed a big magnetic response here, so we were interested to find out why that was.

“We have been able to prove that the remains of the former ironworks have survived, and the site was bigger than we first thought.”

The dig uncovered many other fascinating artefacts from the early 20th century when the field was used as a tip, including part of a commemorative cup from the Belmont Social Club in Hoyland and a workman’s clay pipe from Broseley in Shropshire.

Another chance find was a rare stamped brick from a forgotten brickworks close to the Milton Ironworks.

The brick is now on display as part of the ‘Barnsley Brick Project’ exhibition at Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre.