Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Site of Wireworks at Whitebrook
Trellech United, Monmouthshire, Wales
A scheduled monument in Trellech United, Monmouthshire, recorded as Iron forge (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Iron forge
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 5 October 1998
- Community
- Trellech United
- Unitary authority
- Monmouthshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.75460, -2.68061
- SAM number
- MM270
- Cadw record number
- 1026
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV.Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. a. England ab sich: Shire:15-17, 33 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · 233 Monmouth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
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 c. 1600. The first water-powered wireworks in Britain was built at Tintern in 1566. The Whitebrook works was taken over by the Society of Mineral and Battery Works, and may have ceased operation c. 1720. The works appears to have been supplied with water by a leat over a mile long from the White Brook. Remains of the works include buildings, terraces on the steep hillside and steps. Features such as a waterwheel pit, machinery bases and waste material would also have been associated with the works.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 17th to 18th 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.
Nearby in the register
- Cider Mill at Fern BankInstitutionalunder 1 mi
- Church of the Holy TrinityReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Telephone Call-box (01600 860389)Communicationsunder 1 mi
- Chimney of former Clearwater MillCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.