Cylchgronau Cymru

Abercarn Blast Furnace Len Burland, Foster Frowen and Lionel Milsom Introduction This article describes a previously unrecorded blast furnace situated in Abercarn (ST 216948). It was first recognised in the autumn of 1993 by the authors who for many years have been intrigued by stories and reports concerning Abercarn Ironworks. All traces of these ironworks were previously believed to have disappeared; the present article demonstrates that this is not the case. The early history of the iron trade at Abercarn is fragmentary. It has been said that a furnace at Abercarn was in production in 1576 or a few years later; this seems to have been located in the upper part of the Gwyddon Valley at ST 243963 (Graig Furnace) but only a few fragments remain today. It appears to have been founded by Edmund Roberts of Hawkhurst in Kent after he had been granted woods and minerals, jointly with Richard Hanbury, by the Earl of Pembroke. Three years later he died in debt and the works subsequently came into the possession of Hanbury. Bradney quotes a letter dated 27 February 1748 from Charles Van of Llanwern to the Reverend Henry Burgh which mentions the failure of an Abercarn (Ironworks) Company.2 Little seems to be known about this company. But in 1750 John Griffiths who had been Manager for Capel Hanbury at Pontypool built a new ironworks at Abercarn though he is said to have remained there only for seven years. (We believe that there may be a mistake in the letter quoted by Bradney which should have given the date as 1758; this would fit in with the foregoing.) The next ironmasters of whom we have any record were the Glovers of Birmingham who carried on a lucrative trade at Abercarn for about 25 years. Lloyd records that 'in 1783 we find Messrs. Joshua Glover and Samuel Glover of Birmingham carrying on an important business there and entering into a contract with Anthony Bacon, senior, of Cyfartha for the supply of 800 tons of pig iron yearly'.3 The pig iron referred to was carried over the hills from Hirwaun to Abercarn on the sacks of horses or mules, a distance of about 38 km but the exact route is unknown. Archdeacon Coxe took note of the iron trade at Abercarn when he visited this part of Monmouthshire in 1800. In his 'List of the Principal Manufactories in Monmouthshire' mentioned in his itinerary he notes that at Abercarn there was a 'pitcoal forge and charcoal wirework and a charcoal furnace not listed';4 these belonged to S. Glover Esq.