Horsehay
The furnace at Horsehay came into blast successfully on the 5th of May 1755. Abraham Darby II built this ironworks next to what is now known as Horsehay Pool. The Coalbrookdale Company needed additional furnaces and the land provided a sufficient water supply for lease. Dawley, adjacent to the east, provided mines to fuel the operation. Thomas Goldney III served as the main shareholder of the Coalbrookdale Company and offered financial help for this venture. Many people including dignitaries visited the new furnace during its period of great activity. The East Shropshire Coalfield became the area of greatest production of iron then known.
A railway from Horsehay to the nearby Severn wharves was built shortly after the furnace opened. The first waggon of 'pigs' or iron was sent down Jiggers bank through Coalbrookdale. A.B. Cranes bought the site previously occupied by the ironworks to manufacture some of the largest cranes in Europe until it closed down in 1983. In 1857 the railway arrived as the iron trade in the area began to slump. The site has been transformed into both a small factory estate and a housing estate. The houses which were kept for the ironworks employees were clustered around Horsehay Pool in Spring Village. They are still lived in today.
The rough meaning of its name is an enclosure for horses. Hay is usually added to place names to indicate an enclosure of some sort. The origin of the name dates back to no earlier than 1759. As late as 1981 it was reportedly pronounced Ossay in local dialect. This village lies on the western outskirts of Dawley in the Telford and Wrekin borough of Shropshire, England. It sits within the Dawley Hamlets parish on the northern edge of the Ironbridge Gorge area. The specific pronunciation shift from Horsehay to Ossay marks a unique linguistic history for this location.
Horsehay and Spring Village conservation area was designated in 1999. This designation also refers to the Horsehay conservation area. The area contains listed buildings that protect the historical character of the village. A post office remains open alongside a Methodist Chapel and a village hall. A golf course complete with restaurant serves the community today. These structures help preserve the heritage status granted nearly two centuries after the first furnace ignited.
Horsehay used to have four pubs including The Station Inn and The Forester Arms. The Station Inn closed down in 2012 while the All Labour In Vain closed in 2014. The Travellers Joy pub also existed before these closures. The village is home to the Telford Steam Railway which holds various events throughout the year. As of 2017 the railway hosted a 1940s weekend event. They also ran a Polar Express experience at Christmas. These cultural institutions anchor the modern life of the suburban village.
Horsehay was the birthplace in 1913 of novelist Edith Pargeter. She wrote the popular Brother Cadfael novels under the pen name Ellis Peters. Country singer songwriter Raymond Froggatt lived there until his death in 2023. He had his studio in the village. Television personality Paul Hendy used to live in one of the cottages round Horsehay Pool. Back in the early 19th century a giant of a man called William Ball worked in the Horsehay Iron Works. At the time he was the heaviest man in England tipping the scales at 36 Stones. Following an eye injury he finished work at the Iron Works and toured the country under the name of John Bull.
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Common questions
When did the furnace at Horsehay come into blast successfully?
The furnace at Horsehay came into blast successfully on the 5th of May 1755. Abraham Darby II built this ironworks next to what is now known as Horsehay Pool.
Who was the main shareholder of the Coalbrookdale Company that funded the Horsehay ironworks?
Thomas Goldney III served as the main shareholder of the Coalbrookdale Company and offered financial help for this venture. Dawley provided mines to fuel the operation while the land supplied sufficient water for lease.
What does the name Horsehay mean and when did it originate?
The rough meaning of its name is an enclosure for horses with Hay added to indicate an enclosure of some sort. The origin of the name dates back to no earlier than 1759.
Which notable figures were born or lived in Horsehay during the 20th century?
Horsehay was the birthplace in 1913 of novelist Edith Pargeter who wrote under the pen name Ellis Peters. Country singer songwriter Raymond Froggatt lived there until his death in 2023 and television personality Paul Hendy used to live in one of the cottages round Horsehay Pool.
When was the Horsehay conservation area designated and what buildings are included?
Horsehay and Spring Village conservation area was designated in 1999 to protect listed buildings that preserve the historical character of the village. A post office remains open alongside a Methodist Chapel and a village hall within the protected zone.