Furnace, Craleckan Ironworks View from ENE showing blowing arch

Description Furnace, Craleckan Ironworks View from ENE showing blowing arch

Date 27/5/1979

Collection Papers of Professor John R Hume, economic and industrial historian, Glasgow, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 554235

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Argyll Furnace, Furnace, Loch Fyne, Argyll This was the third charcoal-fuelled iron-smelting furnace established in Argyll in the 18th century to use the woodland, water-power and easy access by sea that the area afforded. This one was built by partners from Backbarrow in Cumbria. This view shows the blowing 'arch' from the charging level. A water-powered bellows at the lower level blew air into the furnace through a nozzle (tuyere) to make the charcoal fire inside hot enough to convert the iron ore into metallic iron. This works closed in 1812, but survived in remarkably good repair into the 1970s, by which time tree growth was threatening it future, hence the repair scheme. The blast-furnace is probably the best-preserved in Britain, still with its lining. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference H79/71/10

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/554235

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap