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Newdale was one of the first planned industrial housing schemes in Britain, an 18th century “New Town”. It was intended to relieve Coalbrookdale and had back-to-back housing for 160 people. There was also pumped water, pig sties and a school for the children. Charges for residence were one penny for Coalbrookdale workers, and three pennies for others. It lasted only a few years. In 1762 one of its buildings was converted to serve as a Quaker Meeting House and was later enlarged (1768 –1843) and then converted to a Methodist Chapel (1853-1921).
Quaker Meeting House At the centre of Newdale is a pair of iron working buildings, erected in 1759 by the Coalbrookdale Company (the builders of the famous Iron Bridge). There is documentary evidence that these buildings were used as a forge (for making wrought iron) and a foundry (for casting iron). Archaeologists have discovered a furnace between the two buildings, and traces of a mill race that probably fed a waterwheel. The ironworks were never fully operational.
During an excavation in 1987, cast iron columns (perhaps some of the earliest ever made) were found here.
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History |
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