Bedlington Ironworks (Blyth)
The site of Bedlington Ironworks. Photo by Harry Rowland.
Fragmentary remains of an 18th and 19th century ironworks site. Reputed to have had a blast furnace by 1760. Some massive masonry walls of a blowing engine house(?) on the main site to the south of Furnace Bridge. Also a kiln for ore roasting (or lime burning?) with two blocked draw arches. To north of bridge, east of river is a quay by former locomotive building shops. Traces of a wagonway to staithes at NZ 282823 (west of present road bridge), from site - blocked arch in west bridge abutment of Furnace Bridge. Possibly on the site of an earlier cornmill. (1)
Bedlington Ironworks was founded in 1736. Ironworking was carried out on the Bebside banks of Blyth Dene and later on the Bedlington side, for over 140 years. Bedlington Corn Mill was incorporated into the ironworks in 1790.
The most notable phase in the history of the Bedlington Iron and Engine Works was in the 19th century with its contribution to the development of the early railways through the invention of malleable rails. They were patented in December 1820. Locomotive works were begun in 1836 on the Blyth side of the river; they closed in 1855.
Two furnaces were constructed c.1820 on the north bank where the river turns for Blyth; they were not in use for long and fell into disuse.
In 1839 the works comprised: a steam engine manufactory, iron and brass foundries, copper and smiths shops, warehouse, gasworks, wharves, houses, stables, granary, stone dams and weir across the river and a bridge. Also, a forge worked by water wheel and steam engine, rolling mills, anchor shops, testing machines, quay, crane and railway.
The works were at their peak in 1850 producing rails and forgings for the Crimean War effort. Finished products were sent down river in keels and shipped at Blyth. The works were finally abandoned in 1867.
The weir was washed away in 1886; the last chimney of the engineworks felled in 1906; clock tower removed in 1915; old ironworks cottages near Bank Top demolished in 1936; remaining works cleared and park made in 1959. (2)
The blast furnace was a financial failure and it was abandoned some time between 1778-88. The works were let to Hawkes and Co of Gateshead in 1778 and in 1788 Hawkes, Longridge and Co, who already had the Bebside Slitting Mill, took over the north bank side. The furnace was demolished soon after 1789 and by 1794 a rolling mill had been erected. The unification of operations on the north and south banks and the change to handling semi-processed iron, helped the successful take up of railway technology in the 19th century. (3)
A number of features have survived the clearance of the site for the creation of a park in the 1950s. These include riverside quay walls, Furnace Bridge, walls of the blowing engine house, a two-arched limekiln, a number of arched conduits running into the river, and retaining walls. (4)
Additional bibliography. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)
Evaluation in 1999 showed that structural remains of the ironworks survive despite levelling which occurred in the 1950s. (12)
[NZ 27778222]
BEDLINGTON IRONWORKS, near the existing bridge (13a)
Bedlington Ironworks(2) (13a-c)
The area once occupied by the Bedlington Ironworks is distinguished by a series of old foundations, now partly overgrown, none of which show any traces of antiquity.
There are no traces of a mill race or any other remains in this area that can be identified with this mill (13d)
Sited a little downstream from Bedlington Corn Mill (Northum 70 SW 4)(13b) (13e)
Bedlington Ironworks was founded in 1736. Ironworking was carried out on the Bebside banks of Blyth Dene and later on the Bedlington side, for over 140 years. Bedlington Corn Mill was incorporated into the ironworks in 1790.
The most notable phase in the history of the Bedlington Iron and Engine Works was in the 19th century with its contribution to the development of the early railways through the invention of malleable rails. They were patented in December 1820. Locomotive works were begun in 1836 on the Blyth side of the river; they closed in 1855.
Two furnaces were constructed c.1820 on the north bank where the river turns for Blyth; they were not in use for long and fell into disuse.
In 1839 the works comprised: a steam engine manufactory, iron and brass foundries, copper and smiths shops, warehouse, gasworks, wharves, houses, stables, granary, stone dams and weir across the river and a bridge. Also, a forge worked by water wheel and steam engine, rolling mills, anchor shops, testing machines, quay, crane and railway.
The works were at their peak in 1850 producing rails and forgings for the Crimean War effort. Finished products were sent down river in keels and shipped at Blyth. The works were finally abandoned in 1867.
The weir was washed away in 1886; the last chimney of the engineworks felled in 1906; clock tower removed in 1915; old ironworks cottages near Bank Top demolished in 1936; remaining works cleared and park made in 1959. (2)
The blast furnace was a financial failure and it was abandoned some time between 1778-88. The works were let to Hawkes and Co of Gateshead in 1778 and in 1788 Hawkes, Longridge and Co, who already had the Bebside Slitting Mill, took over the north bank side. The furnace was demolished soon after 1789 and by 1794 a rolling mill had been erected. The unification of operations on the north and south banks and the change to handling semi-processed iron, helped the successful take up of railway technology in the 19th century. (3)
A number of features have survived the clearance of the site for the creation of a park in the 1950s. These include riverside quay walls, Furnace Bridge, walls of the blowing engine house, a two-arched limekiln, a number of arched conduits running into the river, and retaining walls. (4)
Additional bibliography. (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)
Evaluation in 1999 showed that structural remains of the ironworks survive despite levelling which occurred in the 1950s. (12)
[NZ 27778222]
BEDLINGTON IRONWORKS, near the existing bridge (13a)
Bedlington Ironworks(2) (13a-c)
The area once occupied by the Bedlington Ironworks is distinguished by a series of old foundations, now partly overgrown, none of which show any traces of antiquity.
There are no traces of a mill race or any other remains in this area that can be identified with this mill (13d)
Sited a little downstream from Bedlington Corn Mill (Northum 70 SW 4)(13b) (13e)
N11769
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Proposed regeneration of riverside path at Bedlington 1998; THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRACTICE
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