Bibliography - W.I.R.G.: 2nd Series Bulletin No. 5, 1985
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Wealden Iron Research Group: Second Series Bulletin No. 5, 1985, edited by D. W. Crossley, published 1985 (Wealden Iron Research Group, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

Field Notes, published 1985 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 5, report, pp.2-8, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

A Romano-British Ironworking Site at Crawley Down, Worth, Sussex, by J. S. Hodgkinson, published 1985 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 5, article, pp.9-20, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

The site was discovered in 1980 during an investigation of the land along the Felbridge Water, upstream from the site of Warren Furnace, in an area known in the Middle Ages as Smythford and later as Smithfield. Evidence of ironworking was noted at three locations: (A) TQ 3586 3898, (B) TQ 3584 3899 and (C) TQ 3602 3905, and, the excavation of the first two is the subject of this report. It should be noted that some 150m to the east there is a moated site, adjacent to a field once known as Bottle Field or Botley's. Here there is some surface evidence of habitation in the form of house platforms and hollow-ways, and the Roman road from London to Brighton (Margary 150) passes through the field to cross the stream near the moat.
The sites are in young woodland, on the gently sloping side of a small valley, just above a steep drop of 2-3m down to the stream. The geology of the area is Upper Tunbridge Wells Sand. On the north side of the valley a band of clay outcrops, and it has been suggested that this may have been the source of ore, as the same band outcrops beside the later Warren Furnace downstream, and may have been an ore source for that site.
The site has been given the name Smythford.

The Introduction and Early Spread of the Blast Furnace in Europe, by Alex den Ouden, published 1985 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 5, article, pp.21-35, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

The classical hypothesis that the blast furnace originated in the Walloon part of present-day Belgium in the 13th or early 14th century is incomplete. It is now postulated that (independent) indigenous developments in Sweden, Italy and Belgium took place almost simultaneously. The spread of the new technology from these centres was governed by various technical and economical factors and a rather complex pattern evolved. Matters are further complicated by the adherence, in some areas, to the direct process. This article traces, and tentatively explains, the development of the earliest blast furnaces and their adoption.

Further Excavations on Great Cansiron Farm, Hartfield, by David Rudling, published 1985 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 5, article, pp.36-40, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

In 1983, a second season of excavations was undertaken on Great Cansiron Farm in order to follow up and complete the investigations of a Roman tile kiln and an associated drying shed which had been started in 1982, (Rudling, 1983). This second season of rescue excavations was able to take place as a result of generous grants from a modern handmade-tile company, Keymer Handmade Clay Tiles of Burgess Hill, Sussex, and East Sussex County Council. The project thus funded was able to finish the excavation of the kiln and drying shed, to reveal another building to the east of the kiln, to trial trench the flat, 'terraced' area which lies to the west between the 'shed' and the stream, to section the lynchet which appears on the 1982 survey of the site (Rudling, 1983) and to investigate a nearby iron bloomery furnace.

References to Ironworks in Records at the Sussex Record Office, by Brian Phillips, published 1985 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 5, article, pp.41-43, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

Review, published 1985 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 5, note, p.44, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF