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Duddon Bridge

Duddon Bridge, which is a hamlet situated within the beautiful Duddon Valley a short distance from the River Duddon in Cumbria, is home to the Duddon Iron Furnace which is just north of Duddon Bridge on the A595. This furnace, which is one of the most impressive charcoal fired blast furnaces in Britain, is situated in woodland and is cared for by the Lake District National Park.

Iron Furnace

In 1736 the Cunsey Company, who only used locally produced charcoal as fuel, established the Duddon Iron Works and operated until 1866 when coke replaced charcoal as the source of carbon. Although only partially restored, this is the most complete specimen of an iron producing site, which had a charcoal fired blast furnace. The furnace stack, which was 29 feet high, was built from local stone and charged from above.

There were, apparently, eight rural blast furnaces in the Cumbrian region, namely: Cunsey (Windermere), Nibthwaite (by Coniston Water), Duddon Bridge, Penny Bridge, Low Wood, Newland (near Ulverston), Backbarrow and Leighton (Carnforth). An interpretative panel explains the functions of the furnace and the complex of adjoining buildings.

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