I have had a good close look at these photos and also photos of this site on www.geograph.org where the site and its original purpose has been the subject of an extended discussion.

Right back as far as the bronze age copper furnaces worked by allowing the smelted copper to collect and solidify in the hearth at the base of the furnace where it was removed as a solid mass. Then in around1650 the reverberatory furnace was invented. This was a flat oven like structure that was in widespread use in Britain by 1800. They looked like =http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/small/item/GTJ75121/  this link.

The processing of copper ore even in the 17thC and 18thC utilised several processes and before steam bellows were used the most important factor was water power to get the air blast for high temperatures.

At this site there does not seem to be any source of running water for power or ore dressing.

Despite what the local authorities say , in my opinoin the following things count against this chimney being for copper smelting.

1. No water power
2. No other building remains for all the other associated processes (as far as i can see)
3. Close proximity of base of chimney to water level
4. Allegedly built at a time when another type of furnace was in extensive use for smelting copper.

A Lancaster university guide mentions " A disastrous Victorian attempt at land reclamation" in this area but no copper smelting.

I could find no authoritative documents on the web connecting this site with the copper smelting industry.

Any other opinions?

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