Langley Fields Ironworks and Colliery
1825 Two blast furnaces built at Langley Field, immediately west of Stirchley Ironworks, by John Bishton and Adam Wright. The first was in blast by 1825.[1]
1844 Advertisement: 'LANGLEY FIELDS FURNACES AND COLLIERY, Situate in the midst of the rich and valuable Mineral district of Shropshire, COMPRISING DESIRABLE , FREEHOLD MINING ESTATE, TWO LARGE and CAPITAL SMELTING FURNACES, POWERFUL BLAST ENGINE, FOUR WHIMSEY AND OTHER ENGINES, WEIGHING MACHINES, OLD-LICENCED PUBLIC HOUSE, WORKMEN'S COTTAGES, OFFICES, AND NUMEROUS OTHER BUILDINGS.
TO be SOLD by AUCTION, by Messrs. WALKER and PAGE, at the Jerningham Arms Inn, at Shiffnall, in the county of Salop, on Tuesday the 27th day of August. 1844, at four o'clock the afternoon, subject to such conditions as will be then and there produced and read—all that very valuable FREEHOLD PROPERTY, known as the LANGLEY FIELDS IRON WORKS and COLLIERY, situate in the parish of Dawley, and county of Salop, immediately surrounded by the extensive Mining operations of the Coalbrookdale Company, the Works of Messrs. Botfield, Derby (Darby?), and others ; consisting of two large Smelting Furnaces, capable of making upwards of 110 tons of iron per week, with the large and complete Casting-houses and Foundry, three cupolas and drying stove, very superior 72 horse power Blast Engine, three-feet cylinder and seven-feet stroke, with three boilers, substantial stone Engine-house, long ranges of blast pipes, large blowing tub, and all other necessary apparatus and machinery, in excellent condition ; attached to the inclined plane is an 8-horse power Engine, with brick Engine-house, and suitable brick and tile Bridge-house.
Also the very valuable MINERAL ESTATE called LANGLEY FIELDS, immediately surrounding the said Works, in nearly a ring-fence, containing about thirty Acres, with the remaining Mines of Clay, Coal, Ironstone, and other Minerals in and under the same, all fourteen measures, part of which remain wholly untouched. Also will be included in this lot about Acres of Pennystone, now lying under the Upper Langley Field, adjoining the Estate.
There are also erected on the Estate double and single weighing Machines, Store-rooms, large Blacksmith's shop. Offices, four Stables, Lime and Brick-kilns, twelve Cottages for Workmen, an old-licenced Public House, with suitable Outbuildings connected therewith.
There are also erected upon the lands, for the purpose of raising the Mines, and which will be delivered to the purchaser at a valuation, two very superior twenty-four horse power Whimsey engines (one very nearly new), with proper Boilers and well-built brick Engine houses, a fifteen-horse power iron Whimsey Engine, two Water-lifting Pumps attached, with strong double chains, two strong Pit Frames, and proper gearing to each whimsy; there are two pairs of eight-feet and one pair of nine-feet Pit Shafts sunk through the various measures, with proper gate and drift roads and headings, sufficient for exhausting the whole of the Mines without further expensive operations.
The Property is intersected with tram-roads in every requisite direction, and is admirably arranged for carrying on the work at as little expense as possible, and contains within itself every convenience required for making superior Iron, and the whole of the Works may be put into full operation in a very short space of time at a comparatively , trifling outlay.
Further particulars may be obtained, and plans and sections of the Estate, showing the various workings and the Mines yet remaining untouched, may be seen at the offices of Mr. George Robinson, Solicitor, Wolverhampton, Mr. Brown, Solicitor, Shiffnall; the Auctioneers, Wolverhampton; and at the house of Mr. J. Egerton, Angel Inn, Dawley, who will show the property.' [2]