Bedlam Furnace, Waterloo Street, Ironbridge, Shropshire
In 1778 each part of the famous Iron Bridge was individually cast for Abraham Darby at the Bedlam Furnace, less than 500 yards from the bridge. The remains of this furnace illustrates how iron was produced. Ironstone (ore) was tipped into the top of the furnace along with limestone. It was heated in the furnace with fuel (coal and later coke) to force the iron from the stone. It was tapped off at the bottom as a liquid and run off into moulds to harden.
Location
Shropshire IronbridgePeriod
Georgian (1714 - 1836)Themes
