Dyfi Furnace

 blast furnace  Add category

Dyfi Furnace was built around 1755 by Ralph Vernon and the brothers Edward Bridge and William Bridge. The site was chosen downstream of the waterfall on the River Einion to take advantage of the water power from the river and charcoal produced from the local woodlands, with the iron ore being shipped in from Cumbria via the Afon Dyfi.

Vernon retired between 1765 and 1770, and the Bridges (who also owned Conwy Furnace) became bankrupt in 1773. The furnace then passed to Kendall & Co. (probably Jonathan Kendall and his brother Henry), West Midlands Ironmasters with extensive interests scattered across Staffordshire, Cheshire, The Lake District and Scotland. After the original lease expired in 1796, the furnace seems to have been owned by Bell and Gaskell. The furnace was disused by 1810 and later became a sawmill. It is now the property of CADW (Welsh Historic Monuments) managed for the Welsh Assembly Government for the use and enjoyment of the public.