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Woolbridge furnace is a blast furnace located in Sussex, England, dating to the iron-working period of the early modern era. The site represents an important centre of iron production in the Weald, a region renowned for its iron-smelting activities from the medieval period through to the post-medieval centuries. The furnace survives as a substantial archaeological monument, with physical remains that demonstrate the scale and character of early modern industrial metalworking. Its designation as a heritage monument reflects the significance of Wealden iron production to the economic and technological development of early modern England.
Woolbridge furnace is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1002209. View the official record →
Woolbridge furnace is a blast furnace located in Sussex, England, dating to the iron-working period of the early modern era. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1002209.
Woolbridge furnace is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1002209.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Mayfield iron furnace (2.7 km), Medieval moated site with adjacent late medieval Pondbay, Walsh Manor, Crowborough (5.1 km), Little forge (5.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Woolbridge furnace'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.
Woolbridge furnace stands on Wealden Group, bedrock that formed in the Barremian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.