Backbarrow was particularly associated with the production of the blue pigment ultramarine, or dolly blue. Ironworks, south building, backbarrow, cumbria, la12 3 bed. Charcoal was used as a fuel until about 1920 hence the huge amount of coppicing locally kh when coke was substituted. The backbarrow ironworks heritage trust has been established to take over responsibility for the ironworks once development of the whole site is complete in 2020. Below is an attempt to use factoids to briefly outline some significant facts and events in the history of the butterley company. Hill top is a time capsule allowing you to explore her story and the landscape. Backbarrow ironworks is a scheduled monument in haverthwaite, cumbria, england. A report of 1863 comments that two ironworks on its banks are closed.
A history of muirkirk ironworks 1787 1863 an extract from the minutes of muirkirk literary association and lapraik burns club january 18, 1927. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building. Development increased due to the iron furnace that was built in backbarrow in 1711. Richard roper, of backbarrow, joined the company as a clerk in 1815. From industrious ironmasters and entrepreneurs to the people who toiled beneath the ground or worked so hard within the home, the blaenavon story. In 1850 extensive hematite deposits were discovered of sufficient size to develop factories for smelting and exporting steel. Butterley ironworks ripley and district heritage trust. I rather enjoyed reading through this 1947 book, which is relatively free of exogenous literary theory. It tells the story of the hundreds of migrant families who travelled to the area in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and helped shape this historic town and the dramatic landscape. Bersham ironworks were large ironworks at bersham, near wrexham, wales.
Blaenavon ironworks, the most important site in the history of the town. Backbarrow ironworks was in operation for more than 250 years. Paper documenting the history and operation of the muirkirk iron works, which operated in prince georges county, maryland, from 1847 to 1920. The low wood works were built on the site of an iron furnace owned by isaac wilkinson the father of john wilkinson, and renowned iron master of backbarrow and iron bridge, and builder of the worlds first iron boat, with a license to manufacture gunpowder at. Repairs to the core part of the ironworks through a section 106 agreement are nearing completion. But the historical site in cumbria could be saved for future generations, if plans. At the turn of the 20thcentury and the technological revolution it operated the largest steel mill in the world. The present company, the charcoal iron company ltd, was formed in 1918 and has, from that date, carried on the manufacture of cold blast pig iron which is supplied to the chilled roll trade and various other makers of chilled castings, etc. The blaenavon story is a testimony to human endeavour. They are most famous for being the original working site of john wilkinson. Backbarrow probably grew during the elizabethan period, due to the corn mills that were built along the river. Thank you for your continued support in these difficult times. Brooks takes one work from each of ten significant poets from shakespeare and john donne to.
Holiday cottages backbarrow, self catering accommodation in. My other website has been online since 2007, and out of that large body of work has emerged several themes. There is virtually no physical trace of the works in barrow and sadly no great archive or collection of objects were donated to the dock museum however, the story of the iron and steel works pictured right is an important one in barrows history the company drove growth in. The iron age began when some primitive person noticed that a certain type of rock yielded iron when heated by the coals of a very hot campfire. Buy the history of the dowlais ironworks, 17591936 by owen, john alastair isbn. This record has been generated from an old county number ocn scheduling record. These photos have been taken by members of the trust. The following is the text of a lecture given under the auspices of the burns literary association, in. Priestley correspondence letters, chiefly written to john wilkinson by joseph priestley. Backbarrow was once a tiny hamlet containing very few houses, and on the banks of the swiftflowing river leven the monks of cartmel priory owned a flour mill. Reading ironworks co of reading 1818 thomas perry and joseph perry established katesgrove iron foundry in reading 1820 thomas went bankrupt, leaving joseph on his own until 1825, when he took george barrett as his partner perry and barrett. Backbarrows former ironworks has been unused since two previous development schemes in 2002 and 2011 collapsed. The village of backbarrow is in the parish of haverthwaite, about twelve miles south of windermere at the southern tip of lake windermere. Backbarrow ironworks, cumbria 0308 the iron furnace at backbarrow was built in 1711 and was state of the art in its day the main production of the iron industry was cannon, gun carriages and cannon ball.
The history of blacksmithing blacksmithing began with the iron age, when primitive man first began making tools from iron. Backbarrow ironworks, haverthwaite 1007084 historic. The word factoid does not appear in the oxford english dictionary but has been used to describe small, definitely true but often relatively unknown and sometimes surprising facts. Backbarrow ironworks, haverthwaite, south lakeland lake. Ww2 by the beginning of ww2 the steelworks had been closed and was mothballed but the ironworks continued to operate using the title of barrow hematite steel co ltd. Since our office and factory are in a rural area, our staff travel to work individually by car and we have enough space to maintain social distancing, so in consultation with our staff, we have decided to remain open for business unless government policy changes. Armstrong siddeley occupied buildings from 1940 to 1944 for aircraft engine servicing, and also had testbed plant at bardsea now kingfisher etc. Sep 29, 20 the history of blacksmithing blacksmithing began with the iron age, when primitive man first began making tools from iron. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Backbarrow ironworks, cumbria 0308 the iron furnace at backbarrow was built in 1711 and was state of the art in its day.
An ecclesiastical district from the parish of colton was formed in 1844. Book an appointment to view the spectacular show apartments in this highly. Backbarrow iron works, haverthwaite, cumbria educational. This paper was prepared as part of barnwells initiation into phi mu, an engineering honor society. The establishment of the blaenavon ironworks the blaenavon ironworks opened in the year 1789, it was a very expensive, ambitious and somewhat risky venture initially costing a considerable. The surviving structures of backbarrow ironworks in south lakeland are the best illustration nationally of ironsmelting technology development from the early c18 to the c20. Lowwood gunpowder works is a scheduled monument in haverthwaite, cumbria, england. The barrow hematite steel company limited was a major iron and steel producer based in barrowinfurness, lancashire now cumbria, england, between 1859 and 1963.
One of the oldest continuously worked ironmaking sites in britain. The main product was cannon, although the process to make them in iron was difficult, and cannonballs often became stuck. On the site of ironworks is a scheduled ancient monument built in 1711 and believed to be the only remaining example of its type, the blast furnace at ironworks was one of the first charcoalfired blast furnaces to be built in cumbria. They were also the first site in the world to use a new way of boring holes in cannon and steam engine cylinders.
The following is the text of a lecture given under the auspices of the burns literary association, in the dundas hall, on 18th inst. The story of wortley ironworks by andrews, cr and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Backbarrow is a village in the lake district national park in england. Times atlas of world history by hammond, times books. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Peter w robinson, dalesman books, 1980 a regional history of the railways of great britain, vol. It lies on the river leven about 5 miles 8 km northeast of ulverston in furness in the county of cumbria. Iron and steelworks in barrow the dock museum free resources. Backbarrow ironworks industrial history of cumbria. The cotton masters were also attracted to backbarrow by the power of the. Mechanical landscapes is an unsophisticated fusion of my interests in black and white photography urbex, mechanical engineering and the industrial landscape. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of backbarrow.
The main revenue earner for the line was freight, this being coal for the windermere steamers, iron ore for the backbarrow iron works, and sulphur and saltpetre. Always known as the ironworks and never produced steel. The wider site is being developed as residential units, scheduled for completion in early 2020. October 2007 theres been a furnace on this site since 1711, to smelt the haematite ore that would have been mined elsewhere in cumbria, and brought to the quays in haverthwaite before.
This new firm began to manufacture ploughs to meet a growing demand from the farmers of berkshire for. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of. Backbarrow iron works 2020 all you need to know before you go. Whitaker says the oldest orthography of the name is olvaston, or ulvaston. Backbarrow s former ironworks has been unused since two previous development schemes in 2002 and 2011 collapsed. A charcoal fired blast furnace in operation between 17111963, built on the site of an iron forge and bloomery that operated from 16851711.
This new firm began to manufacture ploughs to meet a growing demand from the farmers of berkshire for better, more scientifically designed ploughs. The history of backbarrow is quite a tale and avid historians enjoy visiting the. Puddling furnace producing wrought iron, never steel. Proceedings of a joint conference of the society and the historical metallurgy society. The surviving structures of backbarrow ironworks represent the best illustration nationally of ironsmelting development from the early c18 to c20. Backbarrow ironworks, haverthwaite 1007084 historic england. She presents information on building, lighting, and maintaining a fire. The low wood works were built on the site of an iron furnace owned by isaac wilkinson the father of john wilkinson, and renowned iron master of backbarrow and iron bridge, and builder of the worlds first iron boat, with a license to manufacture gunpowder at the site being granted on the 22nd of october 1798. October 2007 theres been a furnace on this site since 1711, to smelt the haematite ore that would have been mined elsewhere in cumbria, and brought to the quays in haverthwaite before being transported to backbarrow by horse and cart. They show that his early energy and drive are impressive. After a short history of ironwork, the author discusses the ironworking shop, forge and tools, including anvils, vises, hammers, tongs, punches, centrifugal blowers and machine tools. The backbarrow ironworks site was one of two established in. The adoption of cokesmelting by the british iron industry.
Backbarrow photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. The houses, being roughcast or whitewashed, are covered with blue slate and have a clean and agreeable appearance. To book spa treatments, please contact the spa well in advance, as our spa is a. The history of the whitewater, by local historian ronald mein the leven valley. One of many properties for sale in backbarrow, cumbria, la12 8qq from savills. Mar 11, 2014 backbarrow ironworks was in operation for more than 250 years. The site has featured on the heritage at risk register for many years, and there have been a number of previous attempts to save it without success. Harry scrivenor, a comprehensive history of the iron trade, 1st ed. Owned by james davis, relocated in 1850 to the canal side from orgrave and powka beck.
Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. Built in 1711at backbarrow by isaac wilkinson and developed by his son john wilkinson this furnace was fuelled by charcoal and was the first of its kind in the uk. Backbarrow iron works, haverthwaite, cumbria photograph taken april 1997 crown. The first two furnaces at barrow ironworks were blown in during 1859. Low furness ironworks james davis iron and brass foundry. Urban exploration urbex of backbarrow ironworks, cumbria. The history of blacksmithing appalachian ironworks. Ironworks, backbarrow, cumbria, la12 8qq properties for. C per ton of pig iron output fuel total average tons costs variable selling costs price 17631771 593 4. Earlier mills at the site had been owned by furness abbey, which by this time had been dissolved.
Backbarrow ironworks, cumbria the view from the north. The works closed in the 1970s, although much of the equipment of the last survival of the charcoal furnaces of great britain is still in place. Derelictplaces is a forum for people with an interest in the history and documentation of disused, derelict and abandoned buildings to come together and share their experiences, photography and historical findings. Haverthwaite, lancashire genealogy heraldry and history.
Iron prospector henry schneider arrived in furness in 1839 and, with other investors, opened the furness railway in 1846 to transport iron ore and slate from local mines to the coast. Today the size and success of barrows iron and steelworks have almost been forgotten. Ironworking began at bersham around 1640, and evidence shows that the cannon for the royalists in the english civil war were made there. Samuel pollitts paper mill formerly furness paper works and ulverston paper works occupied the ironworks buildings, established c. Information about isaacs subsequent work at backbarrow comes from the account books and journals of the backbarrow company. The present furnace the one illustrated kh ceased production in 1967. Historical notes ulverston the capital of furness, is a neat and wellbuilt market town and port. Nevertheless, virtually every aspect of this thoroughly revised work has been improved, from maps with more distinct colors to the introduction of photographs retaining its reputation as the most useful historical atlas, the hammond times atlas. Backbarrow ironworks, cumbria 0308 derelict places. The surviving structures of backbarrow ironworks in south lakeland have been described by historic england as the best illustration. History of the whitewater the whitewater hotel spa and leisure club.