Work to begin to protect historic Ironbridge furnaces
Work will begin on a £1.2 million project to protect a historic former furnaces that has been classed as being at risk.
A canopy will be put up over Bedlam Furnaces in Ironbridge to protect it from the elements, followed by work on its masonry and stone work to ensure it will survive for future generations.
For years, the Grade II* listed Scheduled Ancient Monument, just off the B4373, has been categorised as ‘High Risk’ on English Heritage’s Register of Heritage at Risk and is in need of urgent stabilisation and conservation.
Several severe winters and the exposed nature of the structure have caused the deterioration of the brickwork and hard cappings and the general deterioration in its condition.
It is thought to be the last surviving furnace of its kind in the country.
While Abraham Darby came to Coalbrookdale in 1708 or 1709 to begin work perfecting the use of coke to smelt iron, it wasn't until about two or three decades later that it took off.
Paul Gossage, a spokesman for the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, said the Bedlam Furnaces were the first to be built specifically for the process of using coke, which makes them significant in the area's role as part of the industrial revolution.
Mr Gossage said: "In about 1785 a third of all iron in the UK was made in Coalbrookdale because of the use of coke instead of charcoal.
"These furnaces are the last remaining, of their nature, in the UK. Since 2014 the furnaces have been on the Historic England at risk register."
One of the reasons for the problems is that the furnaces, which are built into the side of a hill, are exposed to the elements and have suffered water damage.
After much fundraising by the trust, and with help from Historic England, who has provided a grant of £700,000 and English Heritage, a plan has been made to put a canopy over the top of the furnaces, which will protect them from the weather in future.
Mr Gossage said: "This will give them some protection from the elements, and also allow people to view them as easily as possible.
"It is hoped it will be as light as possible, so that the focus will still be on the furnaces and not the canopy."
Barriers have just been put up around the furnaces, and work will start later this week, with the total build time expected to be around four months.
Mr Gossage asked: "Once the canopy is up we can start to look at restoring the masonry."
