Air Furnace at British Ironworks

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument comprises the remains of an extremely rare air furnace of 19th century date. The air furnace is a type of reverberatory furnace for re-melting cast iron. These were commonly used in foundries during the industrial revolution, but were gradually superceded by the cupola furnace. No other remains of an air furnace are known in Wales, and the two examples currently known in England have only fragmentary remains. The British Ironworks operated from 1827 to 1881. The foundry quadrangle of which the furnace is part was probably built in the early 1830s. The furnace is partially collapsed but appears to retain all its main elements. It consists of a long fire brick hearth held together with iron ties. To the S side is a cast iron door for opening the furnace and allowing molten iron to run through a window into the adjacent foundry building. A fire would have been stoked at the E end of the furnace. There is a surviving chimney at the W end which drew the fire over the hearth.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance and illustrate our knowledge and understanding of the development of the iron industry. An ironworks may be part of a larger industrial complex 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.