Clydach Upper Forge

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. It probably originated in the late 18th century and remained in use until the 1860s. It was possibly built by Richard Parsons to work in conjunction with Ynysgedwyn Ironworks to convert pig iron produced there into wrought iron. The works were situated in the area below its dam on the River Clydach. Remains include the wheelpit, base of an anvil, pans of formerly molten iron, and tailrace culvert. The western half of the dressed stone dam stands intact to a height of roughly 10m, with the wheelpit adjoining it.

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.