Fernhurst Furnace walk on 21st June 2023

Leaving the excellent Fernhurst Playing Fields, we set out along Vann Road as far as the building that used to be the Fernhurst Primitive Methodist Chapel, now a private house. We then turned left down Hawksfold Lane East, eventually passing Lower Hawksfold. After battling through some undergrowth and ferns, most of us took a sharp turn right along a field edge to reach Furnace Wood. This eventually led to Furnace Pond, which is one of the best preserved sites of its type in south-east England. The Pond was the source of water to power the water wheel which worked the bellows to heat the furnace sufficiently to melt iron ore. Iron making was taking place from the 16th to the 18th Century throughout the Weald and it is said that this was the start of the Industrial Revolution. Iron manufacture in southern England only stopped when coke was developed as a much hotter fuel in the north of England. The whole area has many hard chips of slag in the ground, a by-product of the furnace process. After a drinks break we headed up towards the buildings of Lower Lodge Candles and then along the road until we turned into Oakreeds Wood, taking the high path across several stiles back to the bottom of Fridays Hill. Crossing the road into Hogs Hill, we had an easy walk  down to the Red Lion for a good lunch.  

Starting out

Many temptations in the Greengrocers

Just turning down Hawksfold Lane

Lower Hawksfold is around the corner (plus a stream or two!)

Orchid with a small visitor

The stiles came much later in our walk

You can go that way, but we're going this way!

At last, time for a drink

Plenty of sights, but few seats on this stop

Overflow sluice at the Fernhurst furnace site

For 200/300 years this was one of the busiest iron manufacturing sites in the county

Tramping through Oakreeds Wood

Some things need a careful study

Just saying Hi!

An excellent crop of teasel

Red Lion at last

About 4.1/2 miles

• ← Chawton Walk on 14th June 2023
• Walderton walk on the 28th June 2023 →