Farm Building (Former Charcoal Store) Of Furnace Farm, About 50 Metres North West Of Oakdale House

SO 72 NW OXENHALL FURNACE LANE (west side)

3/194 Farm building (former Charcoal Store) of Furnace Farm, about 50m 19.9.84 north-west of Oakdale House

GV II

Former charcoal store for iron furnace, now farm building. C17 or earlier, later alterations, including 1984. Roughly squared and coursed reddish stone; thin yellowish stone to top quarter or less of wall, but not buttresses. Corrugated asbestos roof on steel frame. Four-bay building. Facade to road, plain plinth, at ground level on right, high on left with slope of ground. Square- set buttresses, single offset just below eaves. First bay 5 small square holes: second 3-light mullioned window on left and above, 3 square holes, to right door-frame infilled 2-light mullion and transom window at upper level. Third and fourth bays 6 square lioles: end buttresses removed. Left return high plinth, buttresses at corners; wide centre doorway, about 2.lm high, rebate in stonework for doors, flat timber lintel. Square window to right at same level, 2 rows of 4 small square holes above. 1984 low-pitched gable oversails wall. Right return wide opening, part rebuilt in C20 brickwork. Interior gutted; evidence of upper floor at left end, with cross wall in centre of second bay. Said to be former charcoal store of Cl7 iron works: earlier use not clear, later converted to farm building. Previous roof half-hipped, tiled, removed 1984. Important remains of pre-Industrial Revolution iron works, outlier of Forest of Dean industrial area. Only known C17 charcoal store in existence. Forms group with former blowing house and Oakdale House, (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SO7192326486