Bonawe Iron Works
Location type
WorksName and dates
Bonawe Iron Works (1753-1874)Served by the Industry (without sidings).
Description
This iron works was established by Richard Ford and Company, iron at Bonawe, just to the north east of Taynuilt. The site was ideal having access to tidewater and the forests of Glen Nant and on the banks of Loch Etive and Loch Awe. The timber was coppiced and converted into charcoal for use at the works. So much charcoal was required that it was cheaper to bring haematite from Cumberland than take the charcoal to Cumberland. Water power, for the bellows, was provided by a lade from the River Awe to a waterwheel alongside the furnace.
The works closed in 1874 but many of the works buildings survive. Bonawe House, the manager's house, and several cottages also survive.
Local
Bonawe Ironworks - Historic Environment
Tags
Iron worksAliases
Bunaw Iron Works Bonawe Ironworks Lorne FurnaceExternal links
Canmore site recordNLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
| Nearby stations Taynuilt Ach-na-Cloich Falls of Cruachan Connel Ferry North Connel Barcaldine Halt Loch Awe Benderloch Creagan Oban Oban Ticket Platform Dalmally Appin Duror Kentallen | Nant Viaduct Inverawe Smokery Bonawe Quarries Awe Viaduct Crunachy Siding Tourist/other Inverawe House Ardchattan Priory Stob Dearg Achnacloich Pier Achnacloich House Ben Cruachan Meall Cuanail Pass of Brander Stone Signals Loch Etive Drochaid Ghlas |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
This iron works was established by Richard Ford and Company at Bonawe, just to the north east of Taynuilt. The site was ideal having access to tidewater and the forests of Glen Nant and on the banks of Loch Etive and Loch Awe. The timber was coppiced and converted into charcoal for use at the works. So much charcoal was required that it was cheaper to bring haematite from Cumberland than take the charcoal to Cumberland. Water power, for the bellows, was provided by a lade from the River Awe to a waterwheel alongside the furnace.
The works closed in 1874 but many of the works buildings survive. Bonawe House, the manager's house, and several cottages also survive.
The works closed in 1874 but many of the works buildings survive. Bonawe House, the manager's house, and several cottages also survive.
Chronology Dates
| / /1768 | Dalmally to Inverawe Military Road Road used by the Argyll Furnace Company of the Bonawe Iron Works for timber extraction for their charcoal kilns. The road was damaged by this use. |
