Abstract: A novel and improved cover structure is provided for a furnace, particularly a soaking pit cover. The cover comprises a one-piece cast ferrous metal shell or body having a shallow recess at one side, a plurality of anchor devices secured in spaced relation to the base surface of the recess, and an insulating refractory lining disposed in and filling the recess and retained by the anchor devices. Preferably, the anchor devices are in the form of C-shaped metal hangers affixed to the base surface of the recess and refractory ribbed anchor blocks mounted in the hangers. The refractory lining is preferably a monolithic layer of rammable plastic or castable refractory, particularly a light weight refractory having a bulk density not greater than about 80 lb/ft.sup.3 (1280 kg/m.sup.3).