Location type

Works

Name and dates

Omoa Iron Works (1789-1868)

Description

This small iron works was to the north west of today's Cleland. The site is now a grassy area bordered to the north east by Omoa Road, south east by Chapel Road and the Tillan Burn to the west.

The works was built around 1787-9 for Colonel William Dalrymple.

A network of waggonways extended to the works from various coal pits. One extended to collieries at Newarthill, opened around 1813.

The Wishaw and Coltness Railway's Cleland branch served the works. This opened in 1834, approaching the works from the west with final approach from the south west.

A second point of entry to the works was built with the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) from Omoa Siding, although this opened in 1869, one year after closure of the works.

The Ordnance Survey Name Book described it thus

These Works are on the East bank of the Tillon Burn and Comprises three blast furnaces with Necessary appendages for the Smelting of Iron ore to Pig Iron Mr. Robert Stewart is the proprietor and occupier.

The Omoa Square cottages survived the closure of the works along with the line which now served Cleland Pottery and Ravenhall Colliery Pits Nos 35 and 40.

The site is now a grassy area on the edge of Cleland.

The source of the name of Omoa is interesting. The British won the Battle of San Fernando de Omoa capturing a Spanish garrison in what is now Honduras. It during a complicated part of the American War of Independence when the Spanish became involved. British forces were under control of Dalrymple.

Dalrymple's son Marten Dalrymple was involved in the proposal to build an early railway from the Monkland Canal to Berwick, surveyed by Thomas Telford.

Tags

Iron works ironworks

External links

NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map

Nearby stations Cleland [1st] Cleland Carfin Holytown Newhouse Cambusnethan Wishaw Shieldmuir Newmains Flemington Wishaw South Motherwell Junction Motherwell [1st] Motherwell Motherwell Bridge	Cleland Pottery Omoa Iron Works Signal Box Knownoblehill Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 Omoa Junction Tip Deerpark Colliery Coal and Ironstone Pit Sunnyside Colliery Bellside Junction Omoa Boiler Works Spindleside Colliery Pits Nos 6 and 7 Townhead Colliery Pit No 43 Knownoble Colliery Pit No 2 Aldersyde Brick Works Tourist/other Cleland Hospital
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.