Blayshaw

The hamlet of Blayshaw is on an upland site near Lofthouse and How Stean in upper Nidderdale and it is known that the Cistercian monks of Byland Abbey near Helmsley were operating a bloomery here in medieval times. A large slag heap, mainly grass covered, is in the centre of the photograph below and from other viewpoints there is very obvious evidence of bell pits and adits. Recent fieldwork in conjunction with the Studfold Community Nature Group has identified the remains of a number of bloomery furnaces and other features related to iron smelting. One of the bloomery furnaces has been excavated.