Furnace: Ironworks and Leacainn Forest Walk

Furnace and its historic themes

Furnace can be understood through clearly defined historical and landscape themes. At its heart are the Furnace Ironworks and historic transport routes, along with two dated church histories and Leacainn Forest Walk, with its waterfalls and old bridges. These themes can be distinguished by interest: industrial history, churches and the forest walk each offer a different perspective on Furnace.

The Furnace Ironworks and their surviving features

The Furnace Ironworks were established in 1755 by the Duddon Co. from Cumbria under a 57-year lease from the Duke of Argyll. This makes the founding year, the origin of the founding company and the duration of the lease tangible as distinct aspects of the same historic foundation. The surviving features of the Furnace Ironworks include a blast furnace, a casting house and a three-storey blowing house. The Furnace Ironworks are designated a Scheduled Monument. The former charcoal store in Furnace is designated a Category A listed building. These designations refer to different named sites: Scheduled Monument applies to the Furnace Ironworks, and Category A to the former charcoal store.

Charcoal, Drove Road and stone bridge

The Durran to Furnace Drove Road was used in the 18th century to transport charcoal from the forests of Loch Awe to the ironworks in Furnace. This route history identifies the source, cargo and destination specifically. The road crosses the A83 before reaching an 18th-century double-arched stone bridge. The century dates both its use as a transport route and the construction of the bridge. The former transport function and the specific structure along the route can therefore be viewed as two aspects of the same route.

Water power and historic transport

At the Powder Mills, water power drove the mills. A channel built for this purpose carried water from the River Leacan near Brenchoille Bridge to the mills. Gunpowder was shipped from the harbour at Furnace. Compared with the charcoal transported along the Durran to Furnace Drove Road, both the goods and the routes differ: charcoal by road, gunpowder by ship. Water power, by contrast, describes what drove the mills. The comparison answers two different questions about the history of technology: how goods were transported onwards, and what powered the mills.

Two church histories in the 19th century

Furnace Church opened on 10 August 1841. Furnace Baptist Church opened for worship on 28 December 1884. The two openings are just over four decades apart; for the Baptist Church, the fact that it opened for worship is explicitly stated. The names and dates associate each historical detail with its respective church.

Leacainn Forest Walk

Leacainn Forest Walk includes waterfalls and old bridges. This provides a landscape theme alongside the industrial and church history. The forest walk differs in theme from the industrial sites and transport routes described here: the focus is on the forest, waterfalls and bridges. This can help guide your choice of hotel: first decide whether you are more interested in industrial history, the dated church histories or the forest walk.

Discover more destinations: Dalavich, Ardrishaig, Kirn, Tarbert, Isle of Bute, Tighnabruaich, Kames, Garelochhead

For the wider travel overview: Argyll And Bute.