Bibliography - W.I.R.G.: 2nd Series Bulletin No. 17, 1997
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Wealden Iron Research Group: Second Series Bulletin No. 17, 1997, edited by D. W. Crossley, published 1997 (Wealden Iron Research Group, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

Field Notes, compiled by J. S. Hodgkinson, published 1997 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 17, report, pp.2-8, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

Ebernoe Furnace - site survey 1996, by J. S. Hodgkinson and R. G. Houghton, published 1997 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 17, article, pp.9-12, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

The site of the iron works at Ebernoe (SU 977278) was located, in common with many other such works, at the point where a valley narrowed, enabling the construction of a bay, or dam, by which a pond could be impounded. The original stream seems to have followed a course on the south side of the valley, where the remains of a natural ghyll can still be seen. The southern valley sides are steep in comparison with those on the north side, and it is for this reason that access to the site would have been more likely on the north side. A deeply worn track is still in evidence, and following a route, at a gradient manageable by wagons, up past the site of a former cottage. Known as Furnace Croft, the building, which is shown on a 1764 map of the manor of Ebernoe, survived until the 1920s.

Forges in the late eighteenth century Weald, by J. S. Hodgkinson, published 1997 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 17, article, pp.13-23, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

From the second half of the seventeenth century the output of the Wealden iron industry had changed from being concentrated on the production of bar iron, through the close integration of furnaces and forges, to a specialisation in the manufacture of castings and, in particular, ordnance. This trend, which is reflected in the changing proportion of forges to furnaces, is demonstrated in the succession of lists which appeared during the hundred years from 1650. In them the reduction in output of the forges is very evident, and the petitions and pamphlets which often accompanied such lists point to the increasing dominance of Swedish iron in the eastern half of England, the market earlier served, in part, by the Wealden forges. Not only was the iron, that was imported from the Baltic, of a higher grade than the Wealden product but, despite export and import taxes and a long sea journey, was cheaper as well. The Crowleys, themselves manufacturers of ordnance in the Weald, were the largest importers of Swedish iron, at their extensive works on Tyneside. Thus the Wealden forges were deprived of a wider market by cheaper, imported iron, and reduced to working up the limited surplus iron from furnaces, the production of which was geared to casting guns.

A reconstruction of a Wealden conversion forge and boring mill, by R. G. Houghton, published 1997 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 17, article, pp.23-40, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

To many people, mention of the Wealden iron industry conjures up a picture of a blast furnace by its pond, busily casting the cannon which, according to Kipling, 'smote King Philip's fleet'. However, there were two stages in the production of iron. The first, at the furnace, was production of pig iron and castings such as cannon and firebacks. The second was less well publicised but was no less important. At the conversion forge, sows or pigs of cast iron were decarburized and hammered, to produce malleable wrought iron for the blacksmith. Some time ago, I produced a cut-away drawing of a furnace. Since then it has several times been suggested that a companion drawing of the forge would complete the picture. In many ways it has proved more difficult than the first.

Burgh Wood Forge, Etchingham, by Anne Dalton, published 1997 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 17, article, pp.40-46, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

R. F. Hunnisett, in his introduction to Sussex Coroners' Inquests 1485-1558, refers to the fact that there were several inquests involving aliens, French, Brabantines and Flemings, who were often found to have killed their fellow countrymen. One such case, in 1521, concerned John Ongerfeld of Etchingham, 'hammersmyth', who has been mentioned already by Awty, and Cleere and Crossley, as indicating an early start to iron forges in the Etchingham area.

The supply of raw materials to the Heathfield ironworks, by C. H. C. Whittick, published 1997 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 17, article, pp.46-47, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506564]   Download PDF

The editors of the Fuller correspondence expressed surprise at letters which seemed to suggest that charcoal was carried to the family's furnace at Heathfield from Newick, a distance of approximately ten miles.
It can however be demonstrated that the Newick to which the letters refer is not the parish north of Lewes but Newick Farm in Heathfield, a little over two miles north of the furnace.