Near Lynchburg in Campbell County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Oxford Furnace

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2011

1. Oxford Furnace Marker

Inscription. Just south across Little Beaver Creek stand the ruins of the last of three Oxford Iron Works furnaces built in the vicinity. Virginia and Pennsylvania investors began the ironworks nearby between 1768 and 1772 as a small bloomery forge. According to local tradition, James Callaway built the first blast furnace a mile south before the Revolutionary War. David Ross, a Petersburg entrepreneur, bought the property and built the second furnace on another branch of the creek by late 1776. Thomas Jefferson praised Oxford iron for its high quality. William Ross, an heir of David Ross, and his partners operated the third furnace from about 1836 to 1875.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-150.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1768.

Location. 37° 22.559′ N, 79° 2.484′ W. Marker is near Lynchburg, Virginia, in Campbell

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

County. It is on Richmond Highway (U.S. 460) 0.1 miles east of Oxford Furnace Road (County Route 662), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lynchburg VA 24504, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mount Athos (approx. 1.6 miles away); Buffalo Lick Plantation (approx. 2.8 miles away); Megginson Rosenwald School (approx. 3½ miles away); Concord Depot (approx. 4.3 miles away); Appomattox County / Campbell County (approx. 4.3 miles away); Lynchburg Defenses (approx. 4.8 miles away); Col. Vincent W. “Squeek” Burnett (approx. 4.9

US Rt 460 (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2011

2. US Rt 460 (facing west)

miles away); Chestnut Hill (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lynchburg.

More about this marker. This marker replaced a late 1920s marker with the same title and number that read “Across the stream stood Oxford Furnace, conducted in the Revolution by James Calloway to supply military materials. Iron mines were near by. The furnace was operated until 1875, the mill until 1900.”

Oxford Furnace Rd south of Little Beaver Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2011

3. Oxford Furnace Rd south of Little Beaver Creek

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,849 times since then and 228 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 31, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.