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workmanship that they were consecrated to St。  Peter; and were the

means of obtaining high ecclesiastical distinction for the abbey。



We also find that the abbots of monasteries situated in the iron

districts; among their other labours; devoted themselves to the

manufacture of iron from the ore。  The extensive beds of cinders still

found in the immediate neighbourhood of Rievaulx and Hackness; in

Yorkshire; show that the monks were well acquainted with the art of

forging; and early turned to account the riches of the Cleveland

ironstone。  In the Forest of Dean also; the abbot of Flaxley was

possessed of one stationary and one itinerant forge; by grant from

Henry II; and he was allowed two oaks weekly for fuel;a privilege

afterwards commuted; in 1258; for Abbot's Wood of 872 acres; which

was held by the abbey until its dissolution in the reign of Henry

VIII。  At the same time the Earl of Warwick had forges at work in his

woods at Lydney; and in 1282; as many as 72 forges were leased from

the Crown by various iron…smelters in the same Forest of Dean。



There are numerous indications of iron…smelting having been conducted

on a considerable scale at some remote period in the neighbourhood of

Leeds; in Yorkshire。  In digging out the foundations of houses in

Briggate; the principal street of that town; many 〃bell pits〃 have

been brought to light; from which ironstone has been removed。  The new

cemetery at Burmandtofts; in the same town; was in like manner found

pitted over with these ancient holes。  The miner seems to have dug a

well about 6 feet in diameter; and so soon as he reached the mineral;

he worked it away all round; leaving the bell…shaped cavities in

question。  He did not attempt any gallery excavations; but when the

pit was exhausted; a fresh one was sunk。  The ore; when dug; was

transported; most probably on horses' backs; to the adjacent

districts for the convenience of fuel。  For it was easier to carry the

mineral to the woodthen exclusively used for smelting'than to

bring the wood to the mineral。  Hence the numerous heaps of scoriae

found in the neighbourhood of Leeds;at Middleton; Whitkirk; and

Horsforthall within the borough。  At Horsforth; they are found in

conglomerated masses from 30 to 40 yards long; and of considerable

width and depth。  The remains of these cinder…beds in various

positions; some of them near the summit of the hill; tend to show;

that as the trees were consumed; a new wind furnace was erected in

another situation; in order to lessen the labour of carrying the

fuel。  There are also deposits of a similar kind at Kirkby Overblow; a

village a few miles to the north…east of Leeds; and Thoresby states

that the place was so called because it was the village of the 〃Ore

blowers;〃hence the corruption of 〃Overblow。〃  A discovery has

recently been made among the papers of the Wentworth family; of a

contract for supplying wood and ore for iron 〃blomes〃 at Kirskill

near Otley; in the fourteenth century;*

 'footnote。。。

The following is an extract of this curious document; which is dated

the 26th Dec。 1352:   〃Ceste endenture fait entre monsire Richard de

Goldesburghe; chivaler;dune part; et Robert Totte; seignour; dautre

tesmoigne qe le dit monsire Richard ad graunte et lesse al dit Robert

deuz Olyveres contenaunz vynt quatre blomes de la feste seynt Piere

ad vincula lan du regne le Roi Edward tierce apres le conqueste vynt

sysme; en sun parke de Creskelde; rendant al dit monsire Richard

chesqune semayn quatorzse soutz dargent duraunt les deux Olyvers

avaunt dist; a tenir et avoir al avaunt dit Robert del avaunt dit

monsire Richard de la feste seynt Piere avaunt dist; taunque le bois

soit ars du dit parke a la volunte le dit monsire Richard saunz

interrupcione 'e le dicte monsieur Richard trovera a dit Robert urre

suffisaunt pur lez ditz Olyvers pur le son donaunt:  these words are

interlined'。  Et fait a savoir qe le dit Robert ne nule de soens

coupard ne abatera nule manere darbre ne de boys put les deuz olyvers

avaunt ditz mes par la veu et la lyvere le dit monsire Richard ; ou

par ascun autre par le dit monsire Richard assigne。  En tesmoigaunz

(sic) de quenx choses a cestes presentes endentures les parties

enterchaungablement ount mys lour seals。  Escript a Creskelde le

meskerdy en le semayn de Pasque lan avaunt diste。〃



It is probable that the 〃blomes〃 referred to in this agreement were

the bloomeries or fires in which the iron was made; and that the

〃olyveres〃 were forges or erections; each of which contained so many

bloomeries; but were of limited durability; and probably perished in

the using。

 。。。'

though the manufacture near that place has long since ceased。



Although the making of iron was thus carried on in various parts of

England in the Middle Ages; the quantity produced was altogether

insufficient to meet the ordinary demand; as it appears from our

early records to have long continued one of the principal articles

imported from foreign countries。  English iron was not only dearer;

but it was much inferior in quality to that manufactured abroad; and

hence all the best arms and tools continued to be made of foreign

iron。  Indeed the scarcity of this metal occasionally led to great

inconvenience; and to prevent its rising in price Parliament enacted;

in 1354; that no iron; either wrought or unwrought; should be

exported; under heavy penalties。  For nearly two hundred yearsthat

is; throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuriesthe English

market was principally supplied with iron and steel from Spain and

Germany; the foreign merchants of the Steelyard doing a large and

profitable trade in those commodities。  While the woollen and other

branches of trade were making considerable progress; the manufacture

of iron stood still。  Among the lists of articles; the importation of

which was prohibited in Edward IV。's reign; with a view to the

protection of domestic manufactures; we find no mention of iron;

which was still; as a matter of necessity; allowed to come freely

from abroad。



The first indications of revival in the iron manufacture showed

themselves in Sussex; a district in which the Romans had established

extensive works; and where smelting operations were carried on to a

partial extent in the neighbourhood of Lewes; in the thirteenth and

fourteenth centuries; where the iron was principally made into nails

and horse…shoes。  The county abounds in ironstone; which is contained

in the sandstone beds of the Forest ridge; lying between the chalk

and oolite of the district; called by geologists the Hastings sand。

The beds run in a north…westerly direction; by Ashburnham and

Heathfield; to Crowborough and thereabouts。  In early times the region

was covered with wood; and was known as the Great Forest of Anderida。

The Weald; or wild wood; abounded in oaks of great size; suitable for

smelting ore; and the proximity of the mineral to the timber; as well

as the situation of the district in the neighbourhood of the capital;

sufficiently account for the Sussex iron…works being among the most

important which existed in England previous to the discovery of

smelting by pit…coal。



The iron manufacturers of the south were especially busy during the

fifteenth and sixteenth centuries。  Their works were established near

to the beds of ore; and in places where water…power existed; or could

be provided by artificial means。  Hence the numerous artificial ponds

which are still to be found all over the Sussex iron district。  Dams

of earth; called 〃pond…bays;〃 were thrown across watercourses; with

convenient outlets built of masonry; wherein was set the great wheel

which worked the hammer or blew the furnace。  Portions of the

adjoining forest…land were granted or leased to the iron…smelters;

and the many places still known by the name of 〃Chart〃 in the Weald;

probably mark the lands chartered for the purpose of supplying the

iron…works with  their necessary fuel。  The cast…iron tombstones and

slabs in many Sussex churchyards;the andirons and chimney backs*

 'footnote。。。

The back of a grate has recently been found; cast by Richard Leonard

at Brede Furnace in 1636。  It is curious as containing a

representation of the founder with his dog and cups; a drawing of the

furnace; with the wheelbarrow and other implements for the casting;

and on a shield the pincers and other marks of the blacksmith。

Leonard was tenant of the Sackville furnace at Little

Udimore。Sussex Archaeological Collections; vol。xii。

 。。。'

still found in old Sussex mansions and farm…houses; and such names as

Furnace Place; Cinder Hill; Forge Farm; and Hammer Pond; which are of

very frequent occurrence throughout the county; clearly mark the

extent and activity of this ancient branch of industry。*

 'footnote 。。。

For an interesting account of the early iron industry of Sussex see

M。 A。 LOWER'S Contributions to Literature; Historical; Antiquarian;

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