Wilsontown Iron Works

Wilsontown Iron Works of Carnwath (1779 - 1842)

1780-81 The iron works were erected by the Wilson brothers, natives of the district, who had been, for a long time, settled in London as Swedish merchants

An extensive forge was added to the blast furnaces and foundry

The business became solely in the charge of John Wilson, Senior

1804 Erection of a rolling mill

The business was taken over by Messrs Dixon of Govan. At their Wilsontown Iron Works it was discovered that the local hard 'splint' coal could be used directly in the furnace without previous coking using John Condie's invention of the spiral tuyere; this was the first successful use of coal direct in blast furnace practice.

1825 'At Calder iron-works there are four blast furnaces; in Wilsontown, two; in Carron, five; Clyde, two; Shotts, one; Clelland, two; Muirkirk, three; Devon, two. These furnaces make, on an average, thirty-five tons of iron week each, when working.'

1842 Closed

See Lanarkshire Iron Works

See Also

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Sources of Information

• [1] Clydebridge Steel Work History