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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；
and Metrical。 London； 1854。
。。。＇
Steel was also manufactured at several places in the county； more
particularly at Steel…Forge Land； Warbleton； and at Robertsbridge。
The steel was said to be of good quality； resembling Swedishboth
alike depending for their excellence on the exclusive use of charcoal
in smelting the ore；iron so produced maintaining its superiority
over coal…smelted iron to this day。
When cannon came to be employed in war； the nearness of Sussex to
London and the Cinque Forts gave it a great advantage over the
remoter iron…producing districts in the north and west of England；
and for a long time the iron…works of this county enjoyed almost a
monopoly of the manufacture。 The metal was still too precious to be
used for cannon balls； which were hewn of stone from quarries on
Maidstone Heath。 Iron was only available； and that in limited
quantities； for the fabrication of the cannon themselves； and
wrought…iron was chiefly used for the purpose。 An old mortar which
formerly lay on Eridge Green； near Frant； is said to have been the
first mortar made in England；*
＇footnote。。。
Archaeologia； vol。 x。 472。
。。。＇
only the chamber was cast； while the tube consisted of bars
strongly hooped together。 Although the local distich says that
〃Master Huggett and his man John
They did cast the first cannon；〃
there is every reason to believe that both cannons and mortars were
made in Sussex before Huggett's time； the old hooped guns in the
Tower being of the date of Henry VI。 The first cast…iron cannons of
English manufacture were made at Buxtead； in Sussex； in 1543； by
Ralph Hogge； master founder； who employed as his principal assistant
one Peter Baude； a Frenchman。 Gun…founding was a French invention；
and Mr。 Lower supposes that Hogge brought over Baude from France to
teach his workmen the method of casting the guns。 About the same time
Hogge employed a skilled Flemish gunsmith named Peter Van Collet；
who； according to Stowe； 〃devised or caused to be made certain mortar
pieces； being at the mouth from eleven to nine inches wide； for the
use whereof the said Peter caused to be made certain hollow shot of
cast…iron to be stuffed with fyrework； whereof the bigger sort for
the same has screws of iron to receive a match to carry fyre for to
break in small pieces the said hollow shot； whereof the smallest
piece hitting a man would kill or spoil him。〃 In short； Peter Van
Collet here introduced the manufacture of the explosive shell in the
form in which it continued to be used down to our own day。
Baude； the Frenchman； afterwards set up business on his own account；
making many guns； both of brass and iron； some of which are still
preserved in the Tower。*
＇footnote。。。
One of these； 6 1/2 feet long； and of 2 1/2 inches bore； manufactured
in 1543； bears the cast inscription of Petrus Baude Gallus operis
artifex。
。。。＇
Other workmen； learning the trade from him； also began to manufacture
on their own account； one of Baude's servants； named John Johnson；
and after him his son Thomas； becoming famous for the excellence of
their cast…iron guns。 The Hogges continued the business for several
generations； and became a wealthy county family。 Huggett was another
cannon maker of repute； and Owen became celebrated for his brass
culverins。 Mr。 Lower mentions； as a curious instance of the tenacity
with which families continue to follow a particular vocation； that
many persons of the name of Huggett still carry on the trade of
blacksmith in East Sussex。 But most of the early workmen at the
Sussex iron…works； as in other branches of skilled industry in
England during the sixteenth century； were foreigners Flemish and
Frenchmany of whom had taken refuge in this country from the
religious persecutions then raging abroad； while others； of special
skill； were invited over by the iron manufacturers to instruct their
workmen in the art of metal…founding。*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Lower says；〃 Many foreigners were brought over to carry on the
works； which perhaps may account for the number of Frenchmen and
Germans whose names appear in our parish registers about the middle of
the sixteenth century 。〃 Contributions to Literature； 108。
。。。＇
As much wealth was gained by the pursuit of the revived iron
manufacture in Sussex； iron…mills rapidly extended over the
ore…yielding district。 The landed proprietors entered with zeal into
this new branch of industry； and when wood ran short； they did not
hesitate to sacrifice their ancestral oaks to provide fuel for the
furnaces。 Mr。 Lower says even the most ancient families； such as the
Nevilles； Howards； Percys； Stanleys； Montagues； Pelhams； Ashburnhams；
Sidneys； Sackvilles； Dacres； and Finches； prosecuted the manufacture
with all the apparent ardour of Birmingham and Wolverhampton men in
modern times。 William Penn； the courtier Quaker； had iron…furnaces at
Hawkhurst and other places in Sussex。 The ruins of the Ashburnham
forge； situated a few miles to the north…east of Battle； still serve
to indicate the extent of the manufacture。 At the upper part of the
valley in which the works were situated； an artificial lake was
formed by constructing an embankment across the watercourse
descending from the higher ground；*
＇footnote 。。。
The embankment and sluices of the furnace…pond at the upper part of
the valley continue to be maintained； the lake being used by the
present Lord Ashburnham as a preserve for fish and water…fowl。
。。。＇
and thus a sufficient fall of water was procured for the purpose of
blowing the furnaces； the site of which is still marked by
surrounding mounds of iron cinders and charcoal waste。 Three quarters
of a mile lower down the valley stood the forge； also provided with
water…power for working the hammer； and some of the old buildings are
still standing； among others the