October 19th, 2021
We are pleased to announce that on Friday, October 1, 2021, the statue of Abraham Darby I, an industrial pioneer, was unveiled in Woodsetton, Dudley.
Darby who was born in Wren's Nest in Woodsetton, Staffordshire in 1678, developed the coke burning blast furnace that made it possible to produce commercial grade iron cost-effectively. His work helped launch the Industrial Revolution and contributed to the development of the iron and steel industries.
The memorial designed by artist Steve Field shows the interior of Darby's 1709 blast furnace that was used for his new method of making iron. It also shows pig ironworkers, with ingots in the ground, describing the story of the father of the industrial revolution.
We are proud that we could contribute to the construction of the monument together with local companies specialising in iron casting, laser cutting, and cold roll-forming.
Russell Barnshaw, the founder of Barnshaw Section Bending, said “For us, Abraham Darby is an important figure. For years, as a company specialising in metal bending, we remember that our industry owes a lot to Darby. That is why we are especially pleased that we could support this project and recall Abraham Darby's achievements for industry and the World.”
