Welcome to

Wilsontown

The site of the first ironworks inLanarkshire. It is hard to believe that this

quiet spot was once a noisy, smokey, industrial site, full of people. Can you imagine a cramped village of small houses surrounding a tight complex of furnaces, forge and rolling mill, churning out tonnes of iron each day? But from 1779 to 1842 that’s what happened here, and it was to change the face of iron manufacture for ever.

Visiting Granny?Are you one of the many people who have an ancestor who lived and worked at Wilsontown? Thousands of people worked here over the years and their relatives are now spread across the globe. Wilsontown Ironworks is an important place for many people who travel long distances to see where their ancestors lived and toiled.

Factaraidh iarainn ùr-ghnàthach ’S dòcha nach creids sibh ach, tha an àite iomallach seo glè chudromach ann an dualchas gnìomhasaich Alba. B’ e seo a’ chiad factaraidh iarann ann an Siorrachd Lannraig, sgìre a bha os cionn gnìomachas iarainn ’stàilinn gus o chionn goirid. Mar aon de na factaraidhean iarainn as tràithe air a’ Ghalltachd, bha e na sàr eisimpleir airson na factaraidhean a thàinig às an dèidh. Lorgair an tèicneòlas as ùra an seo leis gun robh na luchd-seilbhe gu math airgead a chur a-steach ann.

WilsontownThe first Ironworks in Lanarkshire

Explore | Discover | Enjoy

The ruined blowing engine house

Wilsontown Ironworks is a scheduled monument

and is protected by law. It is an offence to damage it in any way or use a metal detector.

The furnaces fires have long since cooled but the mines and ruined buildings remain.

Please keep to the paths to enjoy a safe visit to Wilsontown Ironworks.

An Innovative Ironworks

Believe it or not, thisremote place is very important to Scotland’s industrial heritage. This was the very first ironworks in Lanarkshire, a region that then went on to dominate the Scottish iron and steel industry until relatively recently. As one of the earliest ironworks in the lowlands it became a model for other ironworks that sprung up soon after. You would find the latest technology here as the owners were quick to invest heavily in new ideas.

An Enterprising FamilyRobert Wilson had a small coal mine on his land here in the 1770’s. But the idea of starting an Ironworks happened after he and his brother William found some ironstone in a burn whilst out on a walk across the moor. They, and another brother John, set up the ironworks despite the family being mainly merchants and lawyers by trade. Even after a lot of money, effort and time, their ironworks was not to be a financial success. A combination of the economics of the time, the distance of the ironworks from the ports and disagreements between the brothers as to how the business should be run brought an end to this enterprise. After going bankrupt in 1811 and

being put up for sale, the ironworks was bought in 1821 by William Dixon, whose company ran the ironworks until 1842. After this date the furnaces were blown out for the final time, equipment sold off to Carron Ironworks and all the workers dismissed.

Forestry Commission ScotlandScottish Lowlands Forest DistrictFive Sisters House, Five Sisters Business ParkWest Calder EH55 8PN Tel: 0300 067 6700E-mail: scottishlowlands@forestry.gsi.gov.ukWeb: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

Contact

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For information on public transport services contact: Traveline Scotland, 0870 6082608 or www.travelinescotland.com

If you need this publication in an alternative format, please contact:

The Diversity Team Tel: 0300 067 5000E-mail: diversity@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Holmesyke reedbeds The site provides accessible information on a working reedbed, on a network of woodland paths and trails.

Callendar Woods An historic woodland within Callendar Park with miles of trails and history to discover.

Lord Ancrum’s Wood A beautiful woodland on the banks of the River South Esk at Newbattle Abbey College.

For

information

on other

Forestry

Commission

Scotland

sites you can

visit in the

Lowlands &

Fife area

see below

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2

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4

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Twee

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Loch

Nes

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Loch Lomond

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Derwent

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River Annan

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R South

Tyne

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River Cree

Rive

r Dee

River Esk

River Earn

River Garry

River Ta

y

River

Tay

River Lyon

River Teith

River Spean

River Dee

River Moriston

Rive

r Gla

ss

River B

eauly

River Farrar

River

Spey

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Rive

r

River N

airn

River T

hurso

Rive

r Nav

er

River Oykel

KielderWater

Loch

Aw

e

LochNaver

Hop

e

Loch Shin

Loch

Eric

ht

Loch Earn

LochMullardoch

LochQuoich

Loch Maree

FionnLoch

LochFannich

Loch Monar

Loch Morar

LochLangabhat

Loch Rannoch

Loch Eil

Loch Arkaig

Loch

Loch

Erib

oll

R Eden

LochKatrine

Loch Leven

Loch Tay

Don

LochLochy

Loch Sunart

LochCarron

Black

River C

arron

LochLoyal

LochBroom

LochKen

Loch Dee

LochDoon

Spey

River Tummel

River Forth

River Clyde

River Nith

Wt

R Tyne

R North Tyne

St Andrews Bay

Dornoch Firth

Spey Bay

Mora

y Firth

CromartyFirth

Sinclairs Bay

Pentland Firth

Westray Firth

TheNorthSound

Sanday Sound

Stronsay Firth

ScapaFlow

North Ronaldsay Firth

Yell Sound

StMagnusBay

SEA

O

F TH

E H

EBRI

DES

Enard Bay

EddrachillisBay

Sound of Harris

Sound of Monach

Sound of Canna

Sound of R

um

Soun

d of

Slea

t

Soun

d of

Raa

say

Inne

r Sou

nd

Sound of Arisaig

LochSnizort

Sound of Barra

Soun

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Jura

Sound of Mull

Loch Scridain

Loch Tuath

Firth o

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LagganBay

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Luce Bay

SOLW

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Loch Ryan

Long

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M6

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A74(M)

M74

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M8 M8 M73

M80

M9

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M90

M180 KincardineBridge

AlstonSeaham

Longtown

Brampton

Bedlington

Amble

Inchnadamph

Lairg

Dornoch

Killin

Carrbridge Oldmeldrum

Turri ff

Ardvasar

Lossiemouth

Scarinish

Arinagour

Drynoch

Portree

Dunvegan

Lochmaddy/ Loch nam Madadh

Tobermory

Tarbert / Tairbeart

Port Nis

Lochboisdale/ Loch Baghasdail

Castlebay/ Bˆgh aÕChaisteil

Stornoway/ Ste˜rnabhagh

Scourie

Gairloch

Kinlochewe

Achnasheen

Aberfeldy

Tain

Nairn

Dingwall

Alness

Helmsdale

Forres

Charlestown of Aberlour

Huntly

Ellon

Ban ff

Keith

Inverbervie

Stonehaven

BanchoryBallater

Kintore

Inverurie

Alford

Dufftown

Laurencekirk

Pitlochry

BlairAtholl

Newport-on-Tay

Crieff

Auchtermuchty

Dunblane Kinross

Blairgowrie

Lochearnhead

Callander

Tyndrum

Dalmally

Inveraray

Dalkeith

Lauder

Penicuik

InnerleithenBiggar

Dunbar

Greenlaw

Duns

Gretna

Lockerbie

Langholm

Annan

Selkirk

Lochmaben

Lanark

Cumnock

Ardrossan

Largs

Kilsyth

Moffat

Sanquhar

Strathaven

Lochinver

Ledmore

Fionnphort

Lochaline

Grantown-on-Spey

Kingussie

Drumnadrochit

Invergarry

Fort

Augustus

Invermoriston

Aboyne

Lybster

Cromarty

Fortrose

Muir of Ord

PortsoyBuckie

Kirriemuir

Coupar Angus

Auchterarder

Bathgate

Dalbeattie

Whithorn

Wigtown

Kirkcudbright

Drummore

Portpatrick

Scalasaig

North Berwick

Pittenweem

Crail

Eyemouth

PortAskaig

RothesayKennacraig

Claonaig

Lochranza

Lamlash

Prestwick

Dunoon

Cupar

Haddington

Falkland

Brodick

Carnoustie

Brechin

Bonar Bridge

Golspie

PortEllen

Wigton

Maryport

Ballachulish

Lochgilphead

Maybole

Gi rvan

Cannich

Acharacle

Wooler

Crook

Troon

Ballantrae

Melrose

Leven

East LintonTranent

Tarbert

Stromness

Kirkwall

NewtonStewart

NewGalloway

Gatehouseof Fleet

CastleDouglas

Lerwick

Blyth

Coldstream

Braemar

Peebles

St Andrews

Arbroath

Montrose

Invergordon

Galston

Cheste r-le-Street

Portnahaven

Kelso

Spean Bridge

Kinlochleven

Anstruther

OykelBridge

Dyce

Tomintoul

Rothes

Cˆrlabhagh

Brora

Walls

Sandness

North Roe

Haroldswick

Helensburgh

Collintraive

Twatt

Kilwinning

Stewarton

Dunbeath

Scrabster

MelvichBettyhill

Tongue

Altnaharra

Durness

Cullen

Aberchirder

Newburgh

Thornhill

Cairnryan

John O Groats

Newtonmore

Penrith

Consett

Hexham

Corbridge

Morpeth

AlnwickHawick

Stranraer

CampbeltownJedburgh

Berwick-upon-Tweed

CrianlarichOban

Mallaig

Fort William

Forfar

Peterhead

Kyle ofLochalsh

Ullapool

Fraserburgh

Wick

Ashington

Galashiels

Thurso

Elgin

Durham

Bishop Auckland

Uig

Larne

Aviemore

Glenrothes

Dunfermline

Falkirk

Alloa

Cumbernauld

Dumbarton

Airdrie Livingston

Hamilton

Motherwell

Peterlee

Washington

Inverness

Aberdeen

Kirkcaldy

Edinburgh

Stirling

Greenock Glasgow

Paisley

EastKilbride

IrvineKilmarnock

Ayr

Tynemouth

South Shields

Sunderland

Newcastleupon Tyne

GatesheadCarlisle

Dumfries

Hartlepool

Dundee

Perth

BELFAST

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11

109

7

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The boundaries layer is set for easy on-screen viewing. For printing (colour seperations) you may wish to move them above the Holdout layer for proper effect.

For more information on the history of this amazing place - please visit

our website @ www.forestry.gov.uk/wilsontown,

or contact: Forestry Commission Scotland on: 0300 067 6700

or e-mail: scottishlowlands@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Smal

l pea

rl-bo

rder

ed fr

itilla

ry

Wilsontown House - ‘The Big House’

Wor

king

the

Bell-

pits

& W

ilson

tow

n In

n in

the

1960

s

Wilsontown1

Quality Row

2

3

Follow us on

Lowlandsand Fife

Culvert

HaulageYard

Wilsontown Inn

Th

e Moose

BellPits

BellPits

A70

6

Rootpark

Entrance

Church

GraveYard

Quarry(Disused)

West Burn

PowderMagazine

Entrance

La

de

CompanyStore,

Bakery & Offices

BlastFurnaces

Qu

ality R

ow

CokeOvens

CalciningKilns

Miners Rowscirca 1779

CompanyStore,

Bakery & Offices

Sm

iddy

Red

Row

Bu

rnsi

de

Terr

ace

Muircock Row

WilsontownHouse

StablesWilsontownFarm

Reservoir

Wi l s

on

t ow

n I r o

nw

ork

s

Chapel/School

Toll Bar

EngineHouseEngineHouse

RollingMill

EngineHouse

Forge

0 20 40 60 80 100m

0 100 200 300ft

Th

e G

l en

autu

mn

gent

ian

© N

orth

Eas

t Wild

life

A Happy Accident A water leak at Wilsontown in 1828 led to the accidental discovery that blowing hot air into the blast furnace was better than blowing cold air in. This discovery of ‘hot blast’ revolutionised iron manufacturing forever. A new design of nozzle was then developed here to use the hot blast, it is called the Scotch tuyere. Both of these inventions were born at Wilsontown and used in iron manufacture across the world.

What’s Cooking?People toiled at Wilsontown to make iron in the blast furnaces. Coke, limestone and ironstone were dropped into the top of the furnaces, air blown in by steam engines and the temperature raised to about 1200 – 1300° Celcius. The mixture cooked and produced the basic type of iron, pig iron. This pig iron was then put through the fineries, the forge and the rolling mill to make all sorts of iron products for sale. They made nailrods, axles, boiler plates, pipes, cannonballs, rails for tram ways, and ballast. 90 tonnes of iron a week were made here.

Cut-away of the blowing engine house

Scotch tuyere

Charging the Furnace

Pigs

Sow

The terms sow and pigs (hence ‘pig-iron’) comes from the idea that the rows of sand moulds resemble a litter of suckling pigs.

BlastFurnace

Air

Wild thyme

Keep Your Eyes OpenNature has reclaimed this industrial landscape

and there’s lots to discover if you look closely. Wildflowers have taken advantage of the spoil material on railway lines and mines. You’ll find gentians, wild thyme and stag’s horn clubmoss amongst the grasses and

more common flowers here. This habitat attracts a great variety of

insects in the summer. Watch out for dayflying moths and butterflies such as the latticed heath, six spot burnet and small pearl-bordered

fritillary. Overhead, kestrels and buzzards visit regularly with ravens and crossbills passing through occasionally.

Kestrel

Reconstruction illustrations by: Michael Blackmore

The Trails

Blast furnace - Detail

Car Park

Viewpoint

Buildings (Remains/existing)

Trails

Bench Information

Bell Pit

Nearest toilet is at the Forth Sports Centre

Map Key

Wilsontown

The Bell PitsWorking down a dark,

cold hole to dig out

ironstone was hard.

Imagine how you would

handle a nugget of iron

weighing up to a tonne.

The Rolling MillYou had to be quick working here as the red hot iron snaked its way

through the rolls at speed. What if you were looking the other way

when it whipped towards you?

The Worker’s HouseNo running water, an outside dry closet for your toilet, constant stour

and din, and a roof over your heads only as long as you were fit to

work – would you have liked to live here?

The Blast Furnaces You would find the

most-skilled workers

in the whole ironworks

here. You would also

probably find young boys

making the moulds in

the sand of the pig beds.

The ForgeThere were no ear plugs for the workers at the

hammers in this noisy place – or for the folk

living in the houses next door!

Have a look back at life in Wilsontown Ironworks. These accurate illustrations are based on plans, maps and archive documents.

Quality Row

Explore the site of Wilsontown’s historic ironworks and the settlement where its workers lived and mined.

Wide, firm gravel surface throughout with some loose stones. Short moderate slopes but plenty of resting places. One quiet road crossing.

Peat Pond Path

Wander though the forest that has grown over the old industrial landscape and discover a secret pond hidden among the trees.

Wide, firm gravel surface throughout. Some sections may be slightly loose or muddy. Long moderate slope for 400m. Includes a road crossing.

The Glen

A short stroll through young broadleaves alongside the Moosewater Burn and passing the site of the Wilson’s grand mansion.

Uneven grassy surface with muddy parts. One short fairly steep slope.

White Trails These are unmarked trails

1 mile / 1.7 km Allow½ hour

1¼ miles / 2.2 km Allow¾ hour

½ mile / 0.7 km Allow¼ hour