Iron Making in the Olden Times / as instanced in the Ancient Mines, Forges, and Furnaces of The Forest of Dean

by H. G. Nicholls

Lydbrook. Besides which, there were forges, comprising chafferies and fineries, at Park End, Whitecroft, Sowdley, and Lydbrook.

A SURVEY OF THE FOREST OF DEAN IRON WORKS
IN 1635.

“Canop Furnace.—Most p^t new built, the rest repaired by the Farmers, 22^ft square, wheel 22^ft diam^r. Furnace box built years since by the Farmers. Bridge-house 48^ft by 21, 9 high, built 4 years. Bellows boards 18^ft by 4. Clerk’s house and stable built by the Farmers. A cottage built by the Workmen belonging to the Works, now occupied by the Filler. Built before the Farmers hired. Founder’s house, Minecracker’s cabin, a Mine Kiln.

“Park Furnace.—Same dimensions, repaired 4 years since by the Farmers, Wheel and almost all the houses built by the Farmers.

“Park End Forge.—2 Ham^rs, 3 Fineries, 1 Chaffery, rep^d 2 years since, one of the Fineries new.

“Whitecroft Forge,—built ab^t 6 y^rs since by the Farmers, do do

“Bradley Forge.—do do do

“Sowdley Furnace, built 3 years—Qu. if rebuilt? Bridge house, p^t built by the Farmers, p^t old and decay^d, Trow leading to the wheel, ½ made new 5 years since, decay^d, 5 Cottages, 1 built by the Farmers. A dam a mile above Sowdley built by the Farmers. A dam half a mile still higher, built long since.

“Sowdley Forge, 2 Fineries, 1 Chaffery built 2 years, in the place of the old Forge. Trows and Penstocks made new by the Farmers, decayed.

“Lydbrook Furnace, 23^ft long, 9 bottom, 23^ft deep, new built 3 y^rs since from the ground, 3^ft higher than before, much cracked. A great Buttress behind the Furnace to strengthen it.