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squandering what the father's had gathered; and falling back into the

ranks again。  Thus the great Fowles family of Riverhall disappeared

altogether from Sussex。  One of them built the fine mansion of

Riverhall; noble even in decay。  Another had a grant of free warren

from King James over his estates in Wadhurst; Frant; Rotherfield; and

Mayfield。  Mr。 Lower says the fourth in descent from this person kept

the turnpike…gate at Wadhurst; and that the last of the family; a

day…labourer; emigrated to America in 1839; carrying with him; as the

sole relic of his family greatness; the royal grant of free warren

given to his ancestor。  The Barhams and Mansers were also great

iron…men; officiating as high sheriffs of the county at different

times; and occupying spacious mansions。  One branch of these families

terminated; Mr。 Lower says; with Nicholas Barham; who died in the

workhouse at Wadhurst in 1788; and another continues to be

represented by a wheelwright at Wadhurst of the same name。



The iron manufacture of Sussex reached its height towards the close

of the reign of Elizabeth; when the trade became so prosperous that;

instead of importing iron; England began to export it in considerable

quantities; in the shape of iron ordnance。  Sir Thomas Leighton and

Sir Henry Neville had obtained patents from the queen; which enabled

them to send their ordnance abroad; the conseqnence of which was that

the Spaniards were found arming their ships and fighting us with guns

of our own manufacture。  Sir Walter Raleigh; calling attention to the

subject in the House of Commons; said; 〃I am sure heretofore one ship

of Her Majesty's was able to beat ten Spaniards; but now; by reason

of our own ordnance; we are hardly matcht one to one。〃  Proclamations

were issued forbidding the export of iron and brass ordnance; and a

bill was brought into Parliament to put a stop to the trade; but; not

withstanding these prohibitions; the Sussex guns long continued to be

smuggled out of the country in considerable numbers。  〃It is almost

incredible;〃 says Camden; 〃how many guns are made of the iron in this

county。  Count Gondomar (the Spanish ambassador) well knew their

goodness when he so often begged of King James the boon to export

them。〃  Though the king refused his sanction; it appears that Sir

Anthony Shirley of Weston; an extensive iron…master; succeeded in

forwarding to the King of Spain a hundred pieces of cannon。



So active were the Sussex manufacturers; and so brisk was the trade

they carried on; that during the reign of James I。  it is supposed

one…half of the whole quantity of iron produced in England was made

there。  Simon Sturtevant; in his 'Treatise of Metallica;' published in

1612; estimates the whole number of iron…mills in England and Wales

at 800; of which; he says; 〃there are foure hundred milnes in Surry;

Kent; and Sussex; as the townsmen of Haslemere have testified and

numbered unto me。  But the townsmen of Haslemere must certainly have

been exaggerating; unless they counted smiths' and farriers' shops in

the number of iron…mills。  About the same time that Sturtevant's

treatise was published; there appeared a treatise entitled the

'Surveyor's Dialogue;' by one John Norden; the object of which was to

make out a case against the iron…works and their being allowed to

burn up the timber of the country for fuel。  Yet Norden does not make

the number of iron…works much more than a third of Sturtevant's

estimate。  He says; 〃I have heard that there are or lately were in

Sussex neere 140 hammers and furnaces for iron; and in it and Surrey

adjoining three or four glasse…houses。〃  Even the smaller number

stated by Norden; however; shows that Sussex was then regarded as the

principal seat of the iron…trade。  Camden vividly describes the noise

and bustle of the manufacturethe working of the heavy hammers;

which; 〃beating upon the iron; fill the neighbourhood round about;

day and night; with continual noise。〃  These hammers were for the most

part worked by the power of water; carefully stored in the artificial

〃Hammer…ponds〃 above described。  The hammer…shaft was usually of ash;

about 9 feet long; clamped at intervals with iron hoops。  It was

worked by the revolutions of the water…wheel; furnished with

projecting arms or knobs to raise the hammer; which fell as each knob

passed; the rapidity of its action of course depending on the

velocity with which the water…wheel revolved。  The forge…blast was

also worked for the most part by water…power。  Where the furnaces were

small; the blast was produced by leather bellows worked by hand; or

by a horse walking in a gin。  The foot…blasts of the earlier

iron…smelters were so imperfect that but a small proportion of the

ore was reduced; so that the iron…makers of later times; more

particularly in the Forest of Dean; instead of digging for ironstone;

resorted to the beds of ancient scoriae for their principal supply of

the mineral。



Notwithstanding the large number of furnaces in blast throughout the

county of Sussex at the period we refer to; their produce was

comparatively small; and must not be measured by the enormous produce

of modern iron…works; for while an iron…furnace of the present day

will easily turn out 150 tons of pig per week; the best of the older

furnaces did not produce more than from three to four tons。  One of

the last extensive contracts executed in Sussex was the casting of

the iron rails which enclose St。  Paul's Cathedral。  The contract was

thought too large for one iron…master to undertake; and it was

consequently distributed amongst several contractors; though the

principal part of the work was executed at Lamberhurst; near

Tunbridge Wells。  But to produce the comparatively small quantity of

iron turned out by the old works; the consumption of timber was

enormous; for the making of every ton of pig…iron required four loads

of timber converted into charcoal fuel; and the making of every ton

of bar…iron required three additional loads。  Thus; notwithstanding

the indispensable need of iron; the extension of the manufacture; by

threatening the destruction of the timber of the southern counties;

came to be regarded in the light of a national calamity。  Up to a

certain point; the clearing of the Weald of its dense growth of

underwood had been of advantage; by affording better opportunities

for the operations of agriculture。  But the 〃voragious iron…mills〃

were proceeding to swallow up everything that would burn; and the old

forest growths were rapidly disappearing。  An entire wood was soon

exhausted; and long time was needed before it grew again。  At

Lamberhurst alone; though the produce was only about five tons of

iron a…week; the annual consumption of wood was about 200;000 cords!

Wood continued to be the only material used for fuel generallya

strong prejudice existing against the use of sea…coal for domestic

purposes。*

 'footnote。。。

It was then believed that sea or pit…coal was poisonous when burnt in

dwellings; and that it was especially injurious to the human

complexion。  All sorts of diseases were attributed to its use; and at

one time it was even penal to burn it。  The Londoners only began to

reconcile themselves to the use of coal when the wood within reach of

the metropolis had been nearly all burnt up; and no other fuel was to

be had。

 。。。'

It therefore began to be feared that there would be no available fuel

left within practicable reach of the metropolis; and the contingency

of having to face the rigorous cold of an English winter without fuel

naturally occasioning much alarm; the action of the Government was

deemed necessary to remedy the apprehended evil。



To check the destruction of wood near London; an Act was passed in

1581 prohibiting its conversion into fuel for the making of iron

within fourteen miles of the Thames; forbidding the erection of new

ironworks within twenty…two miles of London; and restricting the

number of works in Kent; Surrey; and Sussex; beyond the above limits。

Similar enactments were made in future Parliaments with the same

object; which had the effect of checking the trade; and several of

the Sussex ironmasters were under the necessity of removing their

works elsewhere。  Some of them migrated to Glamorganshire; in South

Wales; because of the abundance of timber as well as ironstone in

that quarter; and there set up their forges; more particularly at

Aberdare and Merthyr Tydvil。  Mr。 Llewellin has recently published an

interesting account of their proceedings; with descriptions of their

works;*

 'footnote 。。。

Archaeologia Cambrensis; 3rd Series; No。 34; April; 1863。  Art。

〃Sussex Ironmasters in Glamorganshire。〃

 。。。'

remains of which still exist at Llwydcoed; Pontyryns; and other

places in the Aberdare valley。  Among the Sussex masters who settled

in Glamorganshire for the purpose of carrying on the iron

manufacture; were Walter Burrell; the friend o

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