The Bedlam Furnaces are the most complete set of mid-18th Century ironworks left in the country.
Situated on the edge of the River Severn, this national treasure can be easily driven by with out realising its importance! It is between Coalport and Ironbridge and quite simply, ‘a must see’.
The original construction on the site was built by the Madeley Wood Furnace Co between 1757 and 1759.
The furnaces operated on this site until 1843, when the company expanded their operations on the site up at the nearby Victorian Village (Blists Hill).
They represent an important advance in iron-smelting by being one of the first furnaces to be built specifically to burn coke as the fuel instead of charcoal. This sight adjustment created a huge shift in smelting possibilities and accelerated the industrial revolution.
Thankfully they are a designated ancient monument, so are afforded some protection. Even so, the site has changed drastically since production and being surrounded by 1950’s back-fill and dumps, makes for an interesting browse.
They can be found beside the B4373, east of Ironbridge.
The Bedlam Furnaces are the most complete set of mid-18th Century ironworks left in the country.
Situated on the edge of the River Severn, this national treasure can be easily driven by with out realising its importance! It is between Coalport and Ironbridge and quite simply, ‘a must see’.
The original construction on the site was built by the Madeley Wood Furnace Co between 1757 and 1759.
The furnaces operated on this site until 1843, when the company expanded their operations on the site up at the nearby Victorian Village (Blists Hill).
They represent an important advance in iron-smelting by being one of the first furnaces to be built specifically to burn coke as the fuel instead of charcoal. This sight adjustment created a huge shift in smelting possibilities and accelerated the industrial revolution.
Thankfully they are a designated ancient monument, so are afforded some protection. Even so, the site has changed drastically since production and being surrounded by 1950’s back-fill and dumps, makes for an interesting browse.
They can be found beside the B4373, east of Ironbridge.
