Madeley Wood Co

Founded in 1756 to work the Madeley Wood (Bedlam) Furnaces beside the Severn, holding mineral leases across Madeley parish for coal and iron ore. Taken over by Abraham Darby III of the Coalbrookdale Company in 1776, then separated again in 1797 under the Reynolds family, already partners of the Darbys at Coalbrookdale; ownership later passed to the Anstice family. Relaunched its blast furnaces at Blists Hill in 1832 (with further furnaces added in 1840 and 1844), continuing pig iron production there until 1912, after which the company concentrated on its colliery interests -- including Halesfield -- in the East Shropshire coalfield.

Mines operated

Record created: 31 August 2026 · Last researched: 31 August 2026