Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
20260
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
29/07/1998
Date of Amendment
29/07/1998
Name of Property
Remains of Forge at Pont-y-blew
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Wrexham
Community
Chirk
Town
Wrexham
Locality
Pont-y-blew
Easting
331141
Northing
338408
Street Side
N
Location
The remains of the forge lie in the front garden of the house called The Forge, approximately 170m from Pont-y-blew bridge.
Description
Broad Class
Industrial
Period
History
The iron forge at Pont-y-blew is amongst the earliest manifestations of the iron industry in Wales, beginning on the initiative of Sir Thomas Myddleton in consortium with other local gentry, Edward Eyton of Ruabon, Thomas Mytton of Halston, and Thomas Kinaston of Ruyton, in 1634. The forge worked in conjunction with Glyn Morlas smelting furnace, at Ifton across the Afon Ceiriog, which began smelting c1630. Pig iron was transported over Pont-y-blew to the forge, where the huge hammer operated by water power from the Afon Ceiriog provided the power. Other works were established at Bersham, Ebnal and Maesbury. The small industry continued to be operated with a few hammer men until later in the C17, when not only ore, but wood for charcoal had to be carried from further afield. The significance of this industry is that, Pont-y-blew, together with Bersham, Ebnal and Maesbury were intended to supply iron bar and finished articles to a wide market in the Midlands, ranking alongside Coalbrookdale. That it did not have lasting success is due to lack of access to a major river system such as the Severn. After the Civil War Sir Thomas bought out his partners, but the industry passed through various hands, until it was turned over to Charles Lloyd of Dolobran. He reconstructed the Pont-y-blew operation in 1710, increasing, with the aid of coal fuel, its output. The industry varied in its success, largely due to external factors. It was extended again in 1795 to produce puddled iron. Production continued to 1870.
Exterior
The remains of the forge consists of a tunnel arch with a segmental stone arch in a retaining wall, a blocked opening over, delivering water to two parallel sunken troughs revetted with stone. A curved wall on the N side ends in a round ended recess, which continues to form the retaining wall for the sunken area.
Interior
Reason for designation
Included as a structure of considerable significance to the history of the iron industry in Britain.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
Export