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Early Iron Furnace in Woolpitch Wood is a post-medieval and modern ironworks site in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference MM177. The furnace exploited the local geological advantages of its location, situated on Lower Devonian rocks of Early Devonian age. These bedrock formations of sandstone and conglomerate provided a stable foundation for the industrial structures whilst the surrounding woodland offered essential timber resources for charcoal production, vital to iron smelting operations of this period.
The site represents the transition from charcoal-fired to modern iron production methods. Post-medieval ironworks in Wales typically operated in phases, with furnace technology evolving to meet increasing demand for iron. The Woolpitch Wood location's combination of geological stability, accessible fuel sources and proximity to watercourses characteristic of Welsh iron-producing regions made it a suitable location for such industrial activity.
As a monument of industrial heritage, the site provides evidence of Wales's significant role in iron production during the post-medieval period and beyond. The surviving structures and landscape remain important for understanding ironworking practices and the relationship between extractive industries and the Welsh landscape. Cadw's protection ensures this record of technological development and industrial activity is preserved for future study.
Early Iron Furnace in Woolpitch Wood is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MM177. View the official record →
Early Iron Furnace in Woolpitch Wood is a post-medieval and modern ironworks site in Wales, protected by Cadw under reference MM177.
Early Iron Furnace in Woolpitch Wood dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a ironworks. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Early Iron Furnace in Woolpitch Wood 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 MM177.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Chepstow Park Wood Cairn (7.3 km), Wyndcliff Roman Site (8.2 km), St Arvan's Church Cross-slab (8.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Early Iron Furnace in Woolpitch Wood'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 in Woolpitch Wood stands on Lower Devonian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.