Priorfield Furnaces
at Coseley, Bilston
Three blast furnaces.
Dismantled in 1911.[1]
1856 'TIPTON. Miraculous Escape. — An accident occurred on Friday evening week, about nine o’clock, at No. 3 furnace at the Priorfields Ironworks. The furnace had been blown out for the purpose of being repaired. The chimney, or top of the furnace, gave way for about 12 or 14 yards of the brickwork, and fell on one side, and instantly the sheet iron fencing, which is about four feet deep and surrounds the top of the furnace, fell with a fearful crash on the opposite side, carrying with it the whole of the wrought iron plates, weighing about 20 tons, which fell in several directions among the men and boys who were eating their suppers. It is a surprising fact that no one was hurt. Had they been at work, there would be about 16 or 17 men and lads, some of whom, if not all of them, must have been killed. The brickwork at the top having been nearly worn through, and the heat being more powerful when the furnace was being blown out, it pressed with more force on the top of the furnace, which accounts for the accident.' [2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Black Country History