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sometimes from great distances； slung in bags across horses'
backs；for the state of the roads was then so execrable as not to
admit of its being led for any considerable distance in carts。 At
length we arrive at a period when coal seems to have come into
general use； and when necessity led to its regular employment both in
smelting the ore and in manufacturing the metal。 And this brings us
to the establishment of the Coalbrookdale works； where the smelting
of iron by means of coke and coal was first adopted on a large scale
as the regular method of manufacture。
Abraham Darby； the first of a succession of iron manufacturers who
bore the same name； was the son of a farmer residing at Wrensnest；
near Dudley。 He served an apprenticeship to a maker of malt…kilns
near Birmingham； after which he married and removed to Bristol in
1700； to begin business on his own account。 Industry is of all
politics and religions： thus Dudley was a Royalist and a Churchman；
Yarranton was a Parliamentarian and a Presbyterian； and Abraham Darby
was a Quaker。 At Bristol he was joined by three partners of the same
persuasion； who provided the necessary capital to enable him to set
up works at Baptist Mills； near that city； where he carried on the
business of malt…mill making； to which he afterwards added brass and
iron founding。
At that period cast…iron pots were in very general use； forming the
principal cooking utensils of the working class。 The art of casting
had； however； made such small progress in England that the pots were
for the most part imported from abroad。 Darby resolved； if possible；
to enter upon this lucrative branch of manufacture； and he proceeded
to make a number of experiments in pot…making。 Like others who had
preceded him； he made his first moulds of clay； but they cracked and
burst； and one trial failed after another。 He then determined to find
out the true method of manufacturing the pots； by travelling into the
country from whence the best were imported； in order to master the
grand secret of the trade。 With this object he went over to Holland
in the year 1706； and after diligent inquiry he ascertained that the
only sure method of casting 〃Hilton ware；〃 as such castings were then
called； was in moulds of fine dry sand。 This was the whole secret。
Returning to Bristol； accompanied by some skilled Dutch workmen；
Darby began the new manufacture； and succeeded to his satisfaction。
The work was at first carried on with great secrecy； lest other
makers should copy the art； and the precaution was taken of stopping
the keyhole of the workshop…door while the casting was in progress。
To secure himself against piracy； he proceeded to take out a patent
for the process in the year 1708； and it was granted for the term of
fourteen years。 The recital of the patent is curious； as showing the
backward state of English iron…founding at that time。 It sets forth
that 〃whereas our trusty and well…beloved Abraham Darby； of our city
of Bristol； smith； hath by his petition humbly represented to us；
that by his study； industry； and expense； he hath found out and
brought to perfection a new way of casting iron bellied pots and
other iron bellied ware in sand only； without loam or clay； by which
such iron pots and other ware may be cast fine and with more ease and
expedition； and may be afforded cheaper than they can be by the way
commonly used； and in regard to their cheapness may be of great
advantage to the poor of this our kingdom； who for the most part use
such ware； and in all probability will prevent the merchants of
England going to foreign markets for such ware； from whence great
quantities are imported； and likewise may in time supply other
markets with that manufacture of our dominions；〃 &c。。。。。 grants the
said Abraham Darby the full power and sole privilege to make and sell
such pots and ware for and during the term of fourteen years thence
ensuing。〃
Darby proceeded to make arrangements for carrying on the manufacture
upon a large scale at the Baptist Mills； but the other partners
hesitated to embark more capital in the concern； and at length
refused their concurrence。 Determined not to be baulked in his
enterprise； Darby abandoned the Bristol firm； and in the year 1709 he
removed to Coalbrookdale in Shropshire； with the intention of
prosecuting the enterprise on his own account。 He took the lease of a
little furnace which had existed at the place for more than a
century； as the records exist of a 〃smethe〃 or 〃smeth…house〃 at
Coalbrookdale in the time of the Tudors。 The woods of oak and hazel
which at that time filled the beautiful dingles of the dale； and
spread in almost a continuous forest to the base of the Wrekin；
furnished abundant fuel for the smithery。 As the trade of the
Coalbrookdale firm extended； these woods became cleared； until the
same scarcity of fuel began to be experienced that had already
desolated the forests of Sussex； and brought the manufacture of iron
in that quarter to a stand…still。
It appears from the 'Blast Furnace Memorandum Book' of Abraham Darby；
which we have examined； that the make of iron at the Coalbrookdale
foundry； in 1713； varied from five to ten tons a week。 The principal
articles cast were pots； kettles； and other 〃hollow ware；〃 direct
from the smelting…furnace； the rest of the metal was run into pigs。
In course of time we find that other castings were turned out： a few
grates； smoothing…irons； door…frames； weights； baking…plates；
cart…bushes； iron pestles and mortars； and occasionally a tailor's
goose。 The trade gradually increased； until we find as many as 150
pots and kettles cast in a week。
The fuel used in the furnaces appears； from the Darby
Memorandum…Book； to have been at first entirely charcoal； but the
growing scarcity of wood seems to have gradually led to the use of
coke； brays or small coke； and peat。 An abundance of coals existed in
the neighbourhood： by rejecting those of inferior quality； and coking
the others with great care； a combustible was obtained better fitted
even than charcoal itself for the fusion of that particular kind of
ore which is found in the coal…measures。 Thus we find Darby's most
favourite charge for his furnaces to have been five baskets of coke；
two of brays； and one of peat； next followed the ore； and then the
limestone。 The use of charcoal was gradually given up as the art of
smelting with coke and brays improved； most probably aided by the
increased power of the furnace…blast； until at length we find it
entirely discontinued。
The castings of Coalbrookdale gradually acquired a reputation； and
the trade of Abraham Darby continued to increase until the date of
his death； which occurred at Madeley Court in 1717。 His sons were too
young at the time to carry on the business which he had so
successfully started； and several portions of the works were sold at
a serious sacrifice。 But when the sons had grown up to manhood； they
too entered upon the business of iron…founding； and Abraham Darby's
son and grandson； both of the same name； largely extended the
operations of the firm； until Coalbrookdale； or； as it was popularly
called； 〃Bedlam；〃 became the principal seat of one of the most
important branches of the iron trade。
There seems to be some doubt as to the precise time when pit…coal was
first regularly employed at Coalbrookdale in smelting the ore。 Mr。
Scrivenor says； 〃pit…coal was first used by Mr。 Abraham Darby； in his
furnace at Coalbrookdale； in 1713；〃*
＇footnote。。。
History of the Iron Trade； p。 56。
。。。＇
but we can find no confirmation of this statement in the records of
the Company。 It is probable that Mr。 Darby used raw coal； as was done
in the Forest of Dean at the same time；*
＇footnote。。。
See Mr。 Powle's account of the Iron Works in the Forest of Dean
（1677…8）； in the Philosophical Transactions； vol。 ii。 p。 418； where
he says； 〃After the