The Abercarn furnace has been identified as a mid 18th century charcoal bast furnace. The site is mostly in tact and there are two furnace arches, the charging house (now a garage), dam for supplying the water powered bellows. The furnaces were in use from 1750 to 1788 and as such is the oldest 'in tact' surviving furnace in South Wales colliery area.
The site was described and drawn by Angerstein in 1756.