Bellingham Iron Foundry

In 1838 Hareshaw Iron Works was established by Messrs Bigge and Partners.

All the essential raw materials, iron ore, coal and limestone, were here for mining, together with water from the nearby Hareshaw Burn.

Employing up to 500 people, at the peak of its operation the foundry contained 70 coke ovens, 24 large roasting kilns for calcining iron ore, a range of coal stores, a blacksmiths shop, wagon shed, stables and stores.

Tramways and wagonways linked several buildings, the mines and the quarries.

The pig iron that was created was transported by cart from Bellingham to Hexham, where it was reheated for casting.

The Iron Works was in production for ten years until 1848 when it was closed and many of the buildings demolished.

Iron from Bellingham Foundry was used in the construction of Robert Stephenson’s famous High Level Bridge linking Newcastle and Gateshead.

Its early demise was probably the result of difficulties transporting the iron to the markets with the Border Counties Railway to Hexham not arriving in the village until 1861.

Today very little remains to remind us of the industrial past but the remains of the Low Dam which is a scheduled ancient monument stand proudly in Hareshaw Burn at the entrance to Hareshaw Linn. 

Information Board by the Low Dam

Remains of the Low Dam