⇐ S.I.H. 1980 (No. 10)S.I.H. 1982 (No. 12) ⇒
Sussex Industrial History: Journal of the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society, edited by Professor E. O. Taylor, published 1981 (No. 11, Sussex Industrial History) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Cobb's Mill, by J. S. F. Blackwell, W. R. Beswick, M. Brunnarius, F. W. Gregory, R. M. Palmer and P. F. Spells, published 1981 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 11, article, pp.2-9) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:Cobb's Mill at Sayers Green near Hurstpierpoint (TQ 295190) is an excellent example of Victorian millwrighting, the four pairs of stones being driven initially by either water or steam power. The steam plant was later replaced by a gas engine with its own gas producer plant. As the mill only stopped working 15 years ago the plant was in fairly good condition and in July 1979 a working weekend was held by Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society members in order to arrest further deterioration and to survey and record the structure and plant.
The working weekend was most successful; the cog pit was cleaned and greased, the gas engine cleaned and wire brushed and the bright parts coated with a film of protective oil, the gas producer derusted and painted, the mill race cleared and brickwork and weather boarding repainted and replaced. It is hoped in the future with the continuing cooperation of the enthusiastic owners of the mill, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. F. Jackson, that it can be restored to working order.
The working weekend was most successful; the cog pit was cleaned and greased, the gas engine cleaned and wire brushed and the bright parts coated with a film of protective oil, the gas producer derusted and painted, the mill race cleared and brickwork and weather boarding repainted and replaced. It is hoped in the future with the continuing cooperation of the enthusiastic owners of the mill, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. F. Jackson, that it can be restored to working order.
Hastings Trolleybus System, 1928-1959, by K. S. Donaldson, published 1981 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 11, article, pp.9-14) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:In July 1927 the Hastings Tramways Company obtained the Hastings Tramways Company (Trolley Vehicles) Act 1927, which authorised the replacement of 65 four wheeled tramcars by trolleybuses, and began implementing its plan to open the first system of trackless trolley omnibuses in Sussex. In addition to the engineering and organisational difficulties that had to be overcome there was the opposition of the Hastings Corporation, and the proceedings at the Annual Meeting of the Hastings & District Electric Tramways Co., Ltd., held at 1 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4 on Tuesday, 15th May, 1928, record a particularly vitriolic attack by the Chairman (who was also Managing Director of the Company), Mr. Gerald P. Moody, on the Corporation for fighting the Bill in the House of Lords.
The Corporation wanted motor buses because these did not require traction poles and overhead wiring to be strung along the extensive sea-front whereas the Company with substantial investment in generating equipment and wiring for trams wanted to stay with electric traction. The Act having passed however, the Company went ahead with the conversion of the tramways system to a trolleybus system which opened on 1st April, 1928, when trolley-buses replaced trams on the route between Hollington and the Fishmarket via Bohemia Road. The vehicles operated were Guy BTX 60, six-wheeled trolley-buses with Dodson open-top double-deck bodies with open staircases at the rear. There was seating for 26 passengers upstairs and 31 downstairs. These vehicles were the first of their kind in the country and indeed for many years were the only open-topped double-decker trolleybuses operating anywhere.
The Corporation wanted motor buses because these did not require traction poles and overhead wiring to be strung along the extensive sea-front whereas the Company with substantial investment in generating equipment and wiring for trams wanted to stay with electric traction. The Act having passed however, the Company went ahead with the conversion of the tramways system to a trolleybus system which opened on 1st April, 1928, when trolley-buses replaced trams on the route between Hollington and the Fishmarket via Bohemia Road. The vehicles operated were Guy BTX 60, six-wheeled trolley-buses with Dodson open-top double-deck bodies with open staircases at the rear. There was seating for 26 passengers upstairs and 31 downstairs. These vehicles were the first of their kind in the country and indeed for many years were the only open-topped double-decker trolleybuses operating anywhere.
Use of Clay at Ashburnham Brickworks, by Jack Harmer, published 1981 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 11, article, pp.14-21) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:In article in the first volume of Sussex Industrial History, entitled "The Ashburnham Estate Brickworks 1840-1968" by K. C. Leslie described the brickmaking process at the yard. A report on the associated tile works was promised for a future issue and that is what the present article sets out to provide.
Review by C. F. Tebbutt in Wealden Iron Research Group: Bulletin 2, 1982:This latest volume from the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society contains an interesting article 'The Use of Clay at Ashburnham Brickworks' by Jack Harmer. In brickmakers' terms the raw material for brick and tile making is in two distinct forms, clay and loam. Contrary to common belief, at Ashburnham at least, only loam is suitable for bricks and only clay for tiles. The Ashburnham brick loam had a high silica content, 75%, and shrank very little in burning; on the other hand the tile-making clay had little silica, less than 25%, and a high shrinkage rate. Clay was very sticky and difficult to handle.
An historical footnote to the above article has been added by W. R. and M. Beswick, based on research into the Ashburnham account books in ESRO. They record many thousands of bricks and tiles supplied by Ashburnham Brickworks to the furnace in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The Beswicks write: In March 1760 the brickworks supplied the furnace with 300 tiles, 1600 double bricks, 3700 common bricks and also 3700 bricks mixed with clay. The inference which may be drawn is that it had become apparent that a high silica brick was unsuitable for blast furnace use, particularly where limestone was added to the furnace as a flux, and therefore a brick with a higher alumina content, was needed. Hence the admixture of clay in bricks for the inner lining of the furnace.
An historical footnote to the above article has been added by W. R. and M. Beswick, based on research into the Ashburnham account books in ESRO. They record many thousands of bricks and tiles supplied by Ashburnham Brickworks to the furnace in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The Beswicks write: In March 1760 the brickworks supplied the furnace with 300 tiles, 1600 double bricks, 3700 common bricks and also 3700 bricks mixed with clay. The inference which may be drawn is that it had become apparent that a high silica brick was unsuitable for blast furnace use, particularly where limestone was added to the furnace as a flux, and therefore a brick with a higher alumina content, was needed. Hence the admixture of clay in bricks for the inner lining of the furnace.
Thomas Durrant, Miller, of Merstham (Surrey) and Ifield (Sussex), by Paul W. Sowan, published 1981 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 11, article, pp.22-24) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:A Thomas Durrant appears to have purchased the watermill at Ifield for £1,800 in 1817. The mill was demolished and re-erected at about the same time, but it is not clear if the purchase price was for the mill as re-built, or if the re-construction was undertaken at additional expense after purchase. A Thomas Watkins Durrant is shown as master miller in the 1851 census for Ifield as having been born in Merstham. How Thomas Durrant found the considerable sum of money required for the purchase of Ifield Mill has been something of a puzzle. Litigation between one Thomas Durrant, miller, of Merstham and Messrs. Jolliffe and Banks, who operated an underground stone quarry in that parish, in 1810, reportedly led to Durrant being awarded damages of £2,200 as compensation for the accidental diversion of his water supply. However, although such a sum readily explains this or a related Durrant's ability to purchase the mill at Ifield, it is puzzling that so great a sum of money for damages is not mentioned by contemporary sources reporting the cause of the interruption of the water. Clearly, there is a case for closer enquiry into the circumstances.
Worthing Electricity Supply, 1893-1901, by Mrs M. L. Morris, published 1981 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 11, article, pp.25-34) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:In 1891 Worthing was made a Borough and one of the first tasks of the new Borough Council was to consider the possibility of an Electricity Supply for the town. Although street lighting was usually the chief application for early electricity supply systems, in Worthing the first suggested application happened to be for something totally different.