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Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel is a post-medieval blast furnace situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. The furnace was constructed to exploit the ironworking potential of the surrounding landscape during the period when iron production expanded across Britain. Its location was strategically chosen in relation to available resources and communication routes necessary for industrial operation.
The monument stands upon Lower Devonian bedrock of undifferentiated character, comprising interbedded sandstone and conglomerate formed during the Early Devonian period. This solid geological foundation provided a stable base for the substantial structure required to contain the intense heat of iron smelting. The Devonian rocks themselves had no iron ore value, but the site's selection reflects the practical requirements of blast furnace placement rather than direct mineral proximity.
The furnace represents an important phase in Welsh industrial heritage, when ironworking technology and investment transformed local landscapes. Though no longer in operation, the surviving structure and its designated status under Cadw reference MM164 preserve evidence of post-medieval and early modern industrial practice in Wales. The monument contributes to understanding the broader history of iron production and the technological demands that shaped industrial sites across Britain.
Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MM164. View the official record →
Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel is a post-medieval blast furnace situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MM164.
Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a blast furnace. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is MM164.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Offa's Dyke: section in Chapelhouse Wood, 240m west of the Recreation Ground (7.5 km), The Alcove, Piercefield (7.8 km), Bishop Barnet's Wood Camp (8.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Early Iron Furnace at Coed-Ithel stands on Lower Devonian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.