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THE BLAST FURNACE LINKS |
The Furnace Hearth, Water Wheel & Bellows Chambers |
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Although it is recorded and known locally that there was once a furnace in Leighton, it was assumed that it had been totally destroyed. Through the interest and knowledge of the archaeologists from Ironbridge Gorge Museum, an excavation took place in May 2001 by Channel 4's “Time Team” and the furnace hearth was dug down to the original ground level. Furthermore, the blast furnace was unearthed below the rear car park and was found to be in a remarkably good condition. It is now assumed that whilst making cannon balls and ammunition for the Royalists during the Civil War between 1630-1650, the furnace itself was put out of action by Cromwell's General Waller, himself an ironmaster The blast for the furnace would have been produced by two bellows which were driven by the water wheel from a central shaft. The bellows chambers which are situated opposite the hearth, (one of which has been covered), would have been the location for the weights, and markings can still be seen where the weights have scored the side of the walls. The water wheel was an over shot wheel. It would have turned anti-clockwise and been driven by the water from the mill pond on the other side of the road which was fed by the sluice located above the wheel. The wheel pit was probably widened around 1800 to allow for the cast wheel which will have replaced the previous wooden one. Domesday stone level can be seen down in the wheel pit. The mill, which can be seen through the glass floor within the pub, is situated on the other side of the wall behind the water wheel. All bricks used were hand made. It is our intention through the Leighton Heritage Group to continue work on the renovation of the corn mill, to excavate down to floor level of the water wheel chamber and to document the history of this fascinating site. |
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