Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Bedlam Furnaces
Hob Uid: 72060
Location : Telford and Wrekin The Gorge
Grid Ref : SJ6780403362
Summary : Remains of coke-fired blast furnace, among the first in the country to be built specifically for coke smelting. Built in 1756-7 by the Madeley Wood Company. Bought by Abraham Darby III in 1776 and taken over by the Reynolds Brothers in 1796. In the 19th century one furnace was used as a brick kiln the rest of the site was abandoned during the 1840s. Now part of the of the Ironbridge Gorge open air museum which was set up in 1967. Scheduled and Listed.
More information : SJ 67800335: Bedlam Furnace. Remains of early 18th century blast furnace. Square on plan, brick-lined chamber with partly bricked-in pointed-arch, opening to road. Another partly-bricked opening to right-hand. Two stone lean-to buttresses to front. One has circular aperture with small arched opening below. Furnace fell into disuse when Blisthill Ironworks was built in early 19th century. Grade 2. (1) (SJ 67820335) Bedlam Furnace (Rems) (Ironbridge Gorge Museum) (NAT) (2) "Bedlam Furnaces were built in 1757, and were some of the first purpose built coke furnaces ever to be erected. During the 19th centurh the right-hand furnace was used as a brick kiln, but the rest of the site was abandoned from the 1840's ... Half of the furnace complex is yet to be excavated and consolidated". (3) The consolidated remains of the furnaces are as described above. They form part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum. (4) SJ 667034. Bedlam furnaces, erected 1757-88 by Madeley Wood Company and continued in blast until 1840s when new furnaces were built at Blists Hill (SE 60 SE 32). Among the first in the country to be built specifically for coke smelting. There were 2 furnaces, served by railways ending on the bank above them. (5) Bedlam Furnace. Remains of early 18th century blast furnace. It is now believed that this is the furnace depicted by PV de Loutherbourg in his well known painting (c 1800) 'Coalbrookdale by Night'. Listed Grade 2 (6). SJ 678033 Bedlam furnaces scheduled number 340. (7)(8) A site of great importance for evidence for steam pumping water over a wheel. A scheme for the protection of this monument is in place. (11) Recorded by NRIM, photographed. (12)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : Shropshire Sites and Monuments Record 1064 (A Tyler 20.2 78)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : OS 1:2500
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 11
Source :
Source details : MPP Iron and Steel Industries: STEP 3, Site Assessments
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 12
Source :
Source details : Recorded by DM Smith, 1962, Record No.SA3
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Notice Board on Site
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : F1 DJC 22-APR-80
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 79
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 1

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : District of the Wrekin Shrops 8-4-83
Page(s) : 131
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 25
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 27
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 66-67
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 47, 69
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Built 1756-1757
Monument End Date : 1757
Monument Start Date : 1756
Monument Type : Blast Furnace, Engine House, Wheel Pit, Slag Heap, Leat
Evidence : Ruined Building, Structure, Earthwork

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : 19th Century
Monument End Date : 1900
Monument Start Date : 1801
Monument Type : Brick Kiln
Evidence : Ruined Building

Monument Period Name : Mid 20th Century
Display Date : 1967
Monument End Date : 1967
Monument Start Date : 1967
Monument Type : Museum
Evidence : Extant Building, Structure

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : SA 340
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 362223
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Shropshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 1064
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : NRI01
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1207904
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1006234
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SJ 60 SE 35
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 1960-01-01
End Date : 1975-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1980-04-22
End Date : 1980-04-22

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1986-01-01
End Date : 1986-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MANAGEMENT SURVEY
Start Date : 2004-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Bedlam Furnaces