Furnace is particularly interesting for travellers who want industrial history and landscape to inform their choice of destination. Furnace Ironworks, a former charcoal store and the Durran to Furnace Drove Road give the industrial history specific names; the Leacainn Forest Walk adds a scenic dimension with waterfalls and old bridges. Two churches with different opening dates are also part of the village’s history. If you are looking for a hotel in Furnace, this mix can help you decide whether industrial history or nature is more important for your trip.
Ironworks and industrial processes
Furnace Ironworks was founded in 1755 by the Duddon Co. from Cumbria under a 57-year lease from the Duke of Argyll. The surviving parts include a blast furnace, a casting house and a three-storey blowing house; the Ironworks is designated a Scheduled Monument. The year of foundation, founder and lease provide specific details about its origins, while the surviving structures offer another perspective on the industrial heritage.
The former charcoal store in Furnace is a Category A listed building. It broadens the historical perspective to include charcoal storage, while Furnace Ironworks is defined by its surviving production structures.
Historic routes and water power
The Durran to Furnace Drove Road was used in the 18th century to transport charcoal from the forests of Loch Awe to the ironworks in Furnace. The route crosses the A83 and leads to an 18th-century double-arched stone bridge. Historically, gunpowder was shipped out from the harbour in Furnace. The road route and shipping thus represent two distinct aspects of the local transport history.
The Powder Mills used water power to drive the mills. A channel was built for the site to bring water from the River Leacan near Brenchoille Bridge. While the Drove Road describes the movement of charcoal, this is about supplying water as a power source. This comparison helps organise the industrial history by its processes rather than just by individual buildings.
Landscape and local history
The Leacainn Forest Walk adds a scenic perspective to the historic routes, with waterfalls and old bridges among its features. Compared with the Durran to Furnace Drove Road, the emphasis shifts from charcoal and transport history to landscape features; bridges feature in both route themes.
Churches in Furnace
Furnace Church opened on 10 August 1841. Furnace Baptist Church opened for worship on 28 December 1884. The two names refer to different churches and two separate opening dates, not to two stages in the history of the same building. They complement the industrial focus with a distinct perspective on church history.
Discover more destinations: Crinan, Tighnabruaich, Port Charlotte, Isle of Bute, Kingarth, Isle of Islay, Bruichladdich, Kilmelfort
For the broader travel overview: Argyll And Bute.
