Blaenavon Ironworks began production in 1789 with 3 furnaces. Two more furnaces were built c1810. The original partnership, led by the Hill family, sold the works in 1836 to the Blaenavon Iron and Coal Co. Initial investment at the site included the construction of a water balance lift for conveyance of pig iron from the site, but further investment did not occur until the 1850s. A new blast engine was built, and a new furnace was blown in during 1861. Investment was also made on a new site kown as Forgeside. By 1900 only one furnace remained in blast, but this was blown out in 1904. Thereafter the site was used by small-scale engineering companies until it became a guardianship monument in 1974.

Furnace 2 was built 1788-9 and continued to smelt cold-blast iron until 1904.

A masonry encased blast furnace of splayed rubble stone walls incorporating ventilation holes and tie bolts, surviving to a height of 15-20m. At the base are round brick tuyere arches to the sides and rear. The rear tuyere arch is beneath a vaulted tunnel springing from the charging platform offset behind the furnace. Of the furnace lining, the boshes and part of the stack survive, but the well and hearth have been removed.

R Hayman, Hayman & Horton, 6/1/2003