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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 of John Ray； the
naturalist； one of the Morleys of Glynde in Sussex； the Relfes from
Mayfield； and the Cheneys from Crawley。
Notwithstanding these migrations of enterprising manufacturers； the
iron trade of Sussex continued to exist until the middle of the
seventeenth century； when the waste of timber was again urged upon
the attention of Parliament； and the penalties for infringing the
statutes seem to have been more rigorously enforced。 The trade then
suffered a more serious check； and during the civil wars； a heavy
blow was given to it by the destruction of the works belonging to all
royalists； which was accomplished by a division of the army under Sir
William Waller。 Most of the Welsh ironworks were razed to the ground
about the same time； and were not again rebuilt。 And after the
Restoration； in 1674； all the royal ironworks in the Forest of Dean
were demolished； leaving only such to be supplied with ore as were
beyond the forest limits； the reason alleged for this measure being
lest the iron manufacture should endanger the supply of timber
required for shipbuilding and other necessary purposes。
From this time the iron manufacture of Sussex； as of England
generally； rapidly declined。 In 1740 there were only fifty…nine
furnaces in all England； of which ten were in Sussex； and in 1788
there were only two。 A few years later； and the Sussex iron furnaces
were blown out altogether。 Farnhurst； in western； and Ashburnham； in
eastern Sussex； witnessed the total extinction of the manufacture。
The din of the iron hammer was hushed； the glare of the furnace
faded； the last blast of the bellows was blown； and the district
returned to its original rural solitude。 Some of the furnace…ponds
were drained and planted with hops or willows； others formed
beautiful lakes in retired pleasure…grounds； while the remainder were
used to drive flour…mills； as the streams in North Kent； instead of
driving fulling…mills； were employed to work paper…mills。 All that
now remains of the old iron…works are the extensive beds of cinders
from which material is occasionally taken to mend the Sussex roads；
and the numerous furnace…ponds； hammer…posts； forges； and cinder
places； which mark the seats of the ancient manufacture。
CHAPTER III。
IRON…SMELTING BY PIT…COALDUD DUDLEY。
〃God of his Infinite goodness （if we will but take notice of his
goodness unto this Nation） hath made this Country a very Granary for
the supplying of Smiths with Iron； Cole； and Lime made with cole；
which hath much supplied these men with Corn also of late； and from
these men a great part； not only of this Island； but also of his
Majestie's other Kingdoms and Territories； with Iron wares have their
supply； and Wood in these parts almost exhausted； although it were of
late a mighty woodland country。〃DUDLEY's Metallum Martis； 1665。
The severe restrictions enforced by the legislature against the use
of wood in iron…smelting had the effect of almost extinguishing the
manufacture。 New furnaces ceased to be erected； and many of the old
ones were allowed to fall into decay； until it began to be feared
that this important branch of industry would become completely lost。
The same restrictions alike affected the operations of the glass
manufacture； which； with the aid of foreign artisans； had been
gradually established in England； and was becoming a thriving branch
of trade。 It was even proposed that the smelting of iron should be
absolutely prohibited： 〃many think；〃 said a contemporary writer；
〃that there should be NO WORKS ANYWHEREthey do so devour the
woods。〃
The use of iron； however； could not be dispensed with。 The very
foundations of society rested upon an abundant supply of it； for
tools and implements of peace； as well as for weapons of war。 In the
dearth of the article at home； a supply of it was therefore sought
for abroad； and both iron and steel came to be imported in
larg