Worker's House, Shore House, Bonawe Furnace

Two storey former worker's dwelling. Rubble, part harled, slate roof. Stair to entrance, stores in basement. Located east of main house.

In 1752-3 Richard Ford & Company of Cumbria, later known as the Newland Company, established Bonawe Ironworks, negociating with local landowners for a supply of wood to provide charcoal for smelting. A kilometre long lade was cut from the River Awe to provide water power and a jetty built on the loch to receive iron ore, imported by sea from Furness in Lancashire and Central Scotland. The industry prospered and a community of local labour and English immigrants developed with workers housing and allotments built with grazing rights also allocated. Oak bark, a by-product of charcoal production, was exported, as for a time spun into a yarn by the workers' wives. By 1876 production at Lorn Furnace had ceased. (FA Walker)

September 2008: External inspection finds the building in poor condition. Although repair work has taken place to ensure the building remains wind and watertight, it appears to have some defects. These include loss of render, pointing and a chimney to the centre of the wallhead. The west gable appears to have lost its chimney also. Extensive vegetation growth makes it unclear what other damage exists to the west gable.

September 2009: External inspection finds the building‘s decay has been arrested, but is in need of a comprehensive and major scheme of repairs.

20 September 2012: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit. Ivy growth on the boundary with the roofless building is a cause for cause