Title: |
Stirchley Furnaces, Telford Town Park: Archaeological Investigations |
Series: |
Nexus Heritage unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
nexusher1-111365_1.pdf (5 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Nexus Heritage was commissioned by Telford and Wrekin Council to undertake a programme of archaeological excavation, historic building recording and landscape survey at the Stirchley furnaces site in Telford Town Park (NGR SJ 700 075). This work was partly undertaken by community volunteers.Substantially well-preserved remains of two of the original blast furnaces survived. These had been built by the Botfield concern in the 1820s and remained in use until the 1880s; they were then adapted as part of the Wrekin Chemical Works, which used the site into the twentieth century. The surviving blast furnaces stand up to 6.5m above the original ground surface, although partly buried and collapsed. Surviving features include blowing and casting arches, furnace stacks, passageways, flues and associated structures. The furnaces are tentatively associated with Thomas Botfield's hot blast patent of 1828, which pre-dates Nielsen's patent. The Stirchley furnaces were also unusual in being associated with a refinery. An increase in ground levels around the furnaces and elsewhere on site during the twentieth century has resulted in good preservation. The furnaces stand within a wider complex with good potential for archaeological survival of other remains, including stratigraphically-intact deposits of metallurgical debris. The site is of high local and regional significance, and of considerable archaeometallurgical interest. It represents a rare archaeological survival of a complete hot blast complex of the early nineteenth century. If the tentative association with the Botfield patent can be confirmed, then the site will be of national significance. Further research and investigation has been recommended. |
Author: |
Paul Belford
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Publisher: |
Nexus Heritage
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Shropshire HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2011
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Locations: |
Site: |
Stirchley Furnaces (aka Stirchley Chimney) |
Parish: |
HOLLINSWOOD AND RANDLAY |
District: |
Telford and Wrekin |
County: |
Shropshire |
Country: |
England |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Telford |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Stirchley |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Botfield |
Grid Reference: 370000, 307500 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
nexusher1-111365 |
OBIB: |
Nexus Heritage report 3072.R01 |
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Note: |
A4, full colour. Includes project description, methodology, archive research, results of fieldwork and discussion. Drawings and photographs. 57 + v pages, plus drawings.
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
25 Nov 2016 |