Raby's Furnace

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of an iron forge, a building or site where bloom iron or cast iron is forged into wrought iron, probably dating to 18th century. The blast furnace structure was built in the 1790's and measures 20ft high, and 20 x 25ft in plan. The furnace structure is built against a natural slope, the archway between the back of the furnace and the bank being partly rock cut. The furnace, mortared stone, has a casting hole on the west side, and a blasting arch on each of the north and south sides. The north side blasting arch is ruined. The arches are c 7ft high, and c 12ft across. Part of the lining of bricks is still in position. Alongside the furnace are the remains of subsidiary buildings, and part of a drystone dam.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 18th or 19th century iron working and other industrial practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. An iron forge may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.