Old Furnace, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, England.
N 52° 38.419 W 002° 29.581
30U E 534305 N 5832380
This furnace was pivotal in the development of the iron industry and indeed the Industrial Revolution. It is in the grounds of the Coalbrookdale Iron Museum.
Waymark Code: WM74YG
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/02/2009
Views: 14
The Old Furnace, Coalbrookdale, built in 1658 by Sir Basil Brooke. Its significance lies in its use by Quaker ironmaster Abraham Darby for his experiments with coke smelting of iron. In 1709 Darby perfected his technique on this site, which profoundly affected the future development of the English iron industry. Until 1709, ironmasters had been entirely dependent on charcoal to fuel their furnaces, the size and location of furnaces limited by the need to grow timber and transport charcoal. The furnace operated using water from a pool, powering a waterwheel which operated bellows, the air blast creating the great heat necessary to smelt iron ore. The furnace was charged from above with alternate layers of coke and iron ore to which limestone was added. The limestone melted and impurities in the charge could be run off separately as slag. When sufficient iron had accumulated in the hearth the furnace was tapped and iron was allowed to flow out for making pig iron or castings. Modified again in 1777, possibly for the manufacture of components of the Iron Bridge (the world's first bridge made from this material), the furnace remained in use until the 1820s.
Subsequent development of the Coalbrookdale site encapsulated the furnace within workshop buildings. In the 1950s the furnace was 'rediscovered' and restored. Further restoration and the erection of a protective cover building took place in the 1980s. In 2009, the 300th anniversary of coke smelting will be celebrated by a series of events at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum.
Parking is 'Pay & Display' in the museum grounds but it is possible to park outside the grounds for free, particularly if you plan to walk the watercourses nearby. It is completely free to enter the housing and view the Old Furnace. It is mainly intact and recent renovation work to the public access allows you to walk all around, under and look into it from above. Enjoy.
