by Mike Davies-Shiel in The CIHS Bulletin, December 2004
Duddon Furnace (J.Bennett)
Click here to see more photos of Duddon Furnace.
(Please note that an archaeological survey in 1998 determined that the Augill smelt mill listed below was used to roast locally found iron nodules before transport to blast furnaces elsewhere. Ed.)
| Charcoalonly | Name | Dates | No.of furnaces | Grid Ref | Other data |
| A | Cleator | 1694-1705? | 3? | NY018136 | Prob. closed when Patryckson died |
| B | Backbarrow | 1711-1770/1770-1966 | 1 | SD356836 | Refs: BRO – BDB/2… |
| C | Cunsey | 1712-1751 | 1 | SD383937 | House NOT on furnace foundation |
| D | Leighton (in N.Lancs by 2 metres) | 1713-1803 | 1 | SD484778 | Stack blew up (water shortage) |
| E | Flimby(SSE of Maryport) | c.1715-? | 1 | NY039337 | A Wm. Wood disaster with very poor coke |
| F | Little Clifton | 1723-1781 | 1 | NY059279 | Used coke from start – lack of water power |
| G | Frizington, Lingla Beck | 1728-? | 1 | NY034178 | Located by JDJW,JJM,MDS & JYL pre 1987. Not at Bleak House. Another Wm Wood trial site |
| H | Duddon | 1736-1867 | 1 | SD197883 | Best preserved charcoal site – by LDNPA |
| I | Nibthwaite | 1736-1755 (furnace) | 1 | SD295883 | Bobbins atop furnace pre 1816. Forge till c.1840 |
| J | Newland | 1746-1890 (furnace)(to coke 1873) | 1 | SD30057970 | Blown out 15/12/1890. Cupolas till 25/01/1891 |
| K | Low Wood | 1747-1798 (then gunpdr) | 1 | SD346837 | Stack stood until 1926(ICI MSS) |
| L | Wilson House, Lindale | pre1748-1901 | 1 | SD426809 | Continued after John Wilkinson died as a specialist carriage works, with some of his staff from Bersham, eg Mullard. Cupolas from pre-1893. |
| M | Penny Bridge | 1748-1791 | 1 | SD308838 | Flax mill by 1807. Later bobbins. |
| Charcoal & Coke | |||||
| N | Maryport (no.1) | 1752-1784 (January) | 1 | NY034362 | Blowing cylinders 1777, but always water short |
| P | Seaton/Barepot | c.1762-1786 (charcoal) | 1/2? | NY013295 | About 1792 converted to coke fuel |
| Coke only | |||||
| 1 | Seaton/Barepot | c1792-1857 (furnace) | 2 (iron/brass) | NY013295 | After 1857 foundry only with rolling mills for tinplate onto iron sheets, + rod & wire slitting etc. -1927 |
| 2 | Derwent Wks., Workington | 1838-1970s | 3 | NX990287 | Am uncertain when it ended |
| 3 | Cleator Moor | 1841-1929 | 5 | NY016154 | |
| 4 | Augill, Brough (see note above table) |
1848-1882+ | 1 | NY816146 | Built to smelt a rich 2m thick hematite find |
| 5 | Woodbank, SE Carlisle | 1856-1882+ | ? | NY421530 | Am uncertain when it ended |
| 6 | Oldside Wks., Workington | 1856-1930 | 4 | NX998298 | N. bank of R.Derwent, next to coast railway |
| 7 | Harrington | 1857-1926 | 4 | NX987247 | See Lancaster & Wattleworth |
| 8 | Barrow | 1859-1967 (late) | 12 | SD190700 | Why did this huge works close to quickly? |
| 9 | W.Cumberland Wks,Workington | 1862-1893 | 7 | NY002296 | Big 7-tonne Bessemer Wks + rolling mills |
| 10 | Askam | 1866-1932 | 4 | SD213774 | Blown out 1932, demolished 1939 |
| 11 | Millom | Sept.1867-Sept.1968 | 6 | SD299798 | Earlier refs to bloomsmithy in Park |
| 12 | Maryport (Gilmours) | 1868-1892 | 6 | NY030360 | S of docks, right on the coast |
| 13 | Maryport (Solway) | 1871-1927 | 4 | NY033355 | Several foundries around it. Demolished 1939 |
| 14 | Lonsdale Wks, Whitehaven | 1870-1903 | 4 | NX973188 | Had dozens of coke ovens |
| 15 | Moss Bay, Workington | 1872-1977 | 4 | NX987272 | Had own docks. Made colonial railway lines |
| 16 | Lowther, Workington | 1873-1911 (Dec) | 3 | NX992288 | Made little profit. Later spiegel for Wk’n |
| 17 | Newland | 1873-1890 (15 Dec) | 1 | SD30057970 | Very small hearth – trial for bigger Backbarrow |
| 18 | Parton | Spring1874-1889 (late) | 2 | NY980211 | Site imm. S off Lowca Beck |
| 19 | North Lonsdale, Ulverston | 1874-1938 | 4 | SD30687760 | Worked with Millom for a time |
| 20 | New Yard, Workington | 1875-pre1936 | 1 | NX991283 | Had many puddling furnaces + rollingmills |
| 21 | Distington | 1879-1922 (early) | 2 | NY014245 | Later (WWII) became High Duty Alloys |
(Page created 10/05/09. Last updated 03/03/16)