The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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British Ironworks Air Furnace

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 04698g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Abersychan
Unitary authority : Torfaen
NGR : SO25710360
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Reverberatory furnace
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Extremely rare remains of an air furnace: a kind of reverberatory furnace for re-melting cast iron. These were commonly used in foundries in the industrial revolution, but were gradually superceded by the cupola furnace. No other remains of an air-furnaces are known in Wales, and the 2 examples currently known in England have only fragmentary remains.

Description :
Extremely rare remains of an air furnace: a kind of reverberatory furnace for re-melting cast iron. These were commonly used in foundries in the industrial revolution, but were gradually superceded by the cupola furnace. No other remains of an air-furnace are known in Wales, and the 2 examples currently known in England have only fragmentary remains.
The British Ironworks operated from 1827 to 1881. The foundry quadrangle of which this furnace was part was probably built n 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.
The furnace is in a courtyard of derelict foundry buildings and is itself in an unstable condition.

Sources :
, 1992 , British Iron Works, Abersychan, Gwent: An Archaeological Report.
Hawkes J , 1993 , Archaeological Assessment of The British Reclaimation Scheme,Near Abersychan, Gwent.
Riden P , 1994 , Historical, Topographical and Archaeological Assessment of the Implications of The British Reclaimation Scheme, Abersychan, Gwent.
Roberts, R. , 2017 , GGAT 148: The British (Abersychan) Ironworks, Talywain, Torfaen: Survey
01/MM List/Cadw/1994/SAM Lists

Events :
E003947 : The British Reclaimation Scheme, Near Abersychan, Gwent (year : 1993)
E003946 : British Iron Works, Abersychan, Gwent (year : 1992)
E003948 : The British Reclaimation Scheme, Abersychan, Gwent. (year : 1994)
E002182 : 'The British', Pontypool (year : 1997)
E006724 : Land to the west of Varteg Road, Blaenavon (year : 2020)
E008475 : Former British Ironworks, Talywain, Aberyschan, Torfaen (year : 2022)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 85068 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/85068/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04596g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02515g

Compiled date : 05-10-1995


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