Moira Furnace, located by the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal in Moira, South Derbyshire, was an Ironworks Factory with a huge blast furnace, built in the reign of King George III. In 1804, the Earl of Moira ordered for the construction of the furnace to take advantage of the amount of iron ore and coal that was present underground in the surrounding Ashby Woulds owned by him. The location chosen was perfect as it took advantage of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal for transportation, and the gradient of the land allowed the furnace to be built low down so raw materials didn't need to be raised very high. However, it was during this period that the development in blast furnace design was ongoing, and so some of its features at Moira Furnace appeared to have been unsuccessful. It opened in 1806 and the industrial operations began.

 

However, it would only last until 1811, not because iron became less valuable, but because it had experienced continual problems. Recorded documents state that bad design, bad construction, bad management and even bad raw materials led to the closure of the furnace, just 5 years after it first opened. The furnace was then left abandoned, with iron ore left inside, partially smelted. Metallurgical examinations discovered that a high content of sulphur was found within the raw materials, and it was that which may have been the contributing factor to the issues. The chimney also showed signs of severe overheating, which further indicated a design fault.

 

The attached foundry continued to be used for many years after the closure, but it was demolished later in the 19th Century. The foundations of this foundry can still be seen to this day on the grounds. The bridgehouse and the engine house were converted into dwellings and survived until the 1970s, when the buildings became so derelict that the engine house had to be demolished.

 

The site later was scheduled as an ancient monument after pressure from the Leicestershire Industrial History Society (LIHS). In 1981, the site was acquired by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) and they sponsored a community project which was aimed to restore the site and develop it as a museum and country park.

 

Since 2018, the building started showing signs of structural integrity loss and severe water leakage through the roof and walls, rendering the museum completely unusable and in need of major maintenance work. A £500,000 backing from NWLDC and Historic England meant the site went through a massive structural overhaul to preserve this location for many years to come.

 

Today, the bridgehouse is now a revamped museum run by the Moira Furnace Museum Trust, dedicated to the history and heritage of this once bustling blast furnace, featuring exhibits on iron-making and the domestic lives of the families who lived there.

Moira Furnace Museum looks sinister from the outside when night falls, and it certainly becomes active with ghost sightings and accounts of paranormal activity when the air goes silent.

 

Investigators and staff have frequently reported hearing disembodied voices chatting or whispering throughout the museum building. Dramatic, loud screams have also been heard echoing from the upper bridge loft area, with no rational cause. The ghost of a small boy has been seen on the upper floor, crouched in a corner near the mouth of the old furnace chimney. No one knows who this little boy is and why he's crouching. Is he scared and trying to hide away from something much darker that we don't know about?

 

One of the rooms inside the museum is Mary's Kitchen, a styled Victorian kitchen housing authentic objects from that period. Investigators in this area have reported the distinct sounds of unexplained footsteps, heavy bangs and the sensation of being closely watched. Shadow figures are also seen in the old workshops, manifesting and then quickly moving at pace, and spectral figures of former workers have been sighted throughout the building and on the grounds where the remains of the foundry rest.

 

One strange sensation commonly felt by museum visitors, staff and paranormal investigators is the sudden, overwhelming feeling of dizziness, nausea and general unease upon entering into specific parts of the building, especially around the staircases. The spiritual energies inside the furnace are said to be quite interactive, with reports of cold spots, light anomalies and the feeling of being touched or pulled by unseen hands in the dark.

 

Outside around the grounds, other ghost sightings are frequently witnessed. One of these tragic spirits is the ghost of a drunk man seen floating in the Ashby Canal. The story goes that one night years ago, he lost his footing walking along canal, fell into the water and drowned. His apparition has terrified passers-by over the years. The sounds of phantom children laughing and playing are heard along the woodland trails that weave around the country park. Shadow figures walk in between the trees of the country park, and on the outer boundaries of the grounds, some investigators have reported chilling encounters with spectral beings resembling early 19th century agricultural workers or farmers carrying pitchforks.

DATE: Saturday 26th September 2026

 

TIMES: 8:30pm - 2:00am (arrive 15 minutes early and wait patiently outside by the museum entrance until a member of our team greets you for registration)

 

LOCATION: Moira Furnace Museum and Country Park, Furnace Lane, Moira, Swadlincote DE12 6AT

 

PARKING AT EVENT: Car Park on-site.

 

REMAINING BALANCE: Needs to be paid FOUR WEEKS prior to the event date. Failure to pay your remaining balance(s) before this deadline will result in you forfeiting your place(s) and your place(s) will be sold on. Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE!

 

WHAT TO BRING: A torch, a warm coat/jacket, sensible footwear, any equipment you wish to bring along (your responsibility), your positive and open-minded energies.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Bringing alcohol or illegal drugs to this event is strictly prohibited. If anyone arrives at the event under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, they will not be allowed to stay for the night and will be asked to leave immediately, NO REFUNDS!