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Site of Wireworks at Whitebrook

A Scheduled Monument in Trellech United (Tryleg Unedig), Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy)

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.7546 / 51°45'16"N

Longitude: -2.6806 / 2°40'50"W

OS Eastings: 353119

OS Northings: 206429

OS Grid: SO531064

Mapcode National: GBR JM.0LFL

Mapcode Global: VH877.H588

Entry Name: Site of Wireworks at Whitebrook

Scheduled Date: 5 October 1998

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1026

Cadw Legacy ID: MM270

Schedule Class: Industrial

Category: Iron forge

Period: Post Medieval/Modern

County: Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy)

Community: Trellech United (Tryleg Unedig)

Traditional County: Monmouthshire

Description

The monument consists of the remains of an iron forge, a building or site where bloom iron or cast iron is forged into wrought iron, probably dating to c. 1600. The first water-powered wireworks in Britain was built at Tintern in 1566. The Whitebrook works was taken over by the Society of Mineral and Battery Works, and may have ceased operation c. 1720. The works appears to have been supplied with water by a leat over a mile long from the White Brook. Remains of the works include buildings, terraces on the steep hillside and steps. Features such as a waterwheel pit, machinery bases and waste material would also have been associated with the works.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 17th to 18th century iron working and other industrial practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. An iron forge may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.

Source: Cadw

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