Blackhall Mill, furnace

HER Number:
5192

District:
Gateshead

Site Name:
Blackhall Mill, furnace

Place:
Blackhall Mill

Map Sheet:
NZ15NW

Class:
Industrial

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Furnace

General Period:
Post Medieval

Specific Period:
C18

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
The furnace is situated at the north end of the mill race which supplied the Blackhall Steel Works (HER 1017). Remains of the furnace can still be seen. In 1719 the furnace was operated by Wilhelm Bertram, a steel worker from Remscheid in Germany. The furnace was supplying steel to the German swordmakers at Shotley Bridge. Swedish traveller Reinhold Angerstein described the furnace at "Blackermille" in 1753 as being built of sandstone, of similar construction to nearby Derwentcote. Shear Steel was the trademark of Bertram. This was apparently introduced into Sheffield in 1767 by a workman from Blackhall Mill. By 1753 swordmaking activities at Shotley Bridge were winding down. The furnace had only supplied one ton of steel, presumably due to the end of the Napoleonic War. In 1810 and 1825 the furnace was operated by the Cookson family. It was not in use by 1863 and is not shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. It was demolished in 1916 to make way for the new school-house.

Easting:
1169

Northing:
5684

Grid Reference:
NZ11695684

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 5192 >> A. H. Reed, 1993, New Sewage Pipe Line Ebchester to Blackhall Mill, Watching Brief report