Red Smiddy Iron Works, Poolewe

Red Smiddy Ironworks A’ Cheardach Ruadh

The remains of ancient ironworks are located on the NE shore of the River Ewe.

The Red Smiddy iron works on the River Ewe, had one of the earliest known blast furnaces in Scotland and was operating in the 1600s.

It was sited because of access to iron ore, timber and water. The river provided a means of transport for thetimber and ore and despite plentiful bog iron locally,other sources of iron ore eventually had to be imported.

Other examples of iron working nearby are Letterewe and Fasagh both on Loch Maree.

At the Red Smiddy, the blast was produced by bellows powered by a water wheel. Excavations in 1980 found a lade, furnace stack and a large quantity of slag waste from smelting. The furnace was a square building of stone, probably about 5m in height. Charcoal was produced from the readily available timber and this was used to generate the high temperature needed for smelting iron.

The charcoal and ore would have been loaded at the top. At the bottom were two arches, one for blowing the air into the furnace, the other to allow molten iron to flow out into moulds. The main output of the Red Smiddy was munitions such as cannon and cannon balls.

A dam was constructed across the river and water was diverted through the lade to operate bellows and a hammer.

The blowing house into the furnace. The furnace stack would have been 5m high.

The blowing house into the furnace is on the left of the furnace stack. The casting house is on the right of the furnace stack.

After the excavation, the site was covered over to help preserve the structure.

Reproduced courtesy of J R Hume

J H Dixon lived at Inveran, near the Red Smiddy and in 1886 he published a classic book describing in detail every aspect of theParish of Gairloch, its history, legends, geography and wildlife.In the book, he wrote extensively about the ironworks in the area.

Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree by J H Dixon.

Available in Gairloch Museum.