The Old Furnace At Coalbrookdale Ironworks

COALBROOKDALE COALBROOKDALE IRONWORKS 1. 5362 The Old Furnace at Coalbrookdale Ironworks SJ 6604 9/79

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2. Retained at ground level a small area of foundation walls which are part of the first furnace of 1638 in which, in 1709 the first iron ever to be made with coke was smelted. The early furnace continued in use, repaired and improved, until 1777 when Abraham Darby III rebuilt it to a new design in preparation for casting the Iron Bridge. It consists of a massive square tower-like brick outer casing containing the furnace itself which, in shape, is a double cone of circular section in dark fire brick surrounded by several courses of hard red brick. The space between circle and square is packed with fire resistant material. At ground level there are recesses on 2 sides of the furnace tower. One, facing south is the recess and the other, facing east is the forehearth recess. Both recesses are spanned by cast-iron beams, 2 of which have initial letters and the date 1638 cast on them while the 2 upper beams of the 4 supporting the forehearth recess are boldly inscribed - 'ABRAHAM DARBY 1777'. To the right of the forehearth is a large archway with flue and damper which was a mould and core-drying stone.

Listing NGR: SJ6675504865