Though the constant occurrence of wood embers with the old cinders is conclusive proof that charcoal was the fuel invariably used, yet how it was employed can hardly be determined with exactness, except from what is known of the elementary plans in early use amongst other people, the Egyptians, for instance, the natives of Central Africa, or the iron-workers of Madagascar. A strong draught must necessarily have been made to pass through the ignited fuel, either by placing the furnace so as to take the wind, or by forming it on the principle of the modern wind furnace. Or the required blast might have been created by means of wooden cylinders, or leathern bags, alternately compressed by the hands or feet. Water-power was rarely, if ever, resorted to at this remote date, since cinders are seldom found near brooks or streams.
In common with everything else relating to the manufactures of the kingdom, Domesday Book is silent respecting the mines, iron works, and miners
of the Forest. Adverting, however, to this otherwise invaluable return, we learn from it that Edward the Confessor was accustomed to demand from the citizens of Gloucester, “thirty-six dicres of iron, and a hundred elongated iron rods for bolts for the king’s ships,”—(xxxvi. dicras ferri & c. virgas ferreas ductiles ad clavos navium Regis). The nearest, and indeed, the only locality, within a distance of many miles, from whence the forgemen of Gloucester could have obtained their iron, was this neighbourhood. Hence the metal they used came from the Forest.
Less than a hundred years later, and all doubt on this point is removed by a notification in the Great Rolls of the Pipe, that 16s. worth of iron was sent, in 1158, to Wudestock (Woodstock) by the king’s order, besides 8s. worth more for repairs at his palace. An observation of Geraldus, describing the tour he made through Wales in 1188, speaks of the “noble Forest of Dean, by which Gloucester was amply supplied with iron and venison.” [11a]
The first charter granted to the Abbey of Flaxley, by Henry II., whilst Duke of Normandy, and therefore previous to 1154, in which year he came to the throne, specifies an iron work at Edlaud, now Elton, near Westbury, on the eastern side of the Forest. [11b] His second charter, when king, is more explicit, and describes “an iron forge, free and quit, with as free liberty to work as any of his forges in demesne,” showing that he possessed several.
The allowance of two oaks per week, wherewith the monks might feed their forge, although not mentioned until 42 Henry III. (1258), when they were commuted for the tract of land yet called the Abbot’s Woods, were granted most likely at this period, and afford some data for determining the capacity of the Flaxley works.
At the commencement of his reign (1216), Henry III. commanded “John de Monmouth to cause Richard de Eston to have his forge working in the Forest of Dean, at Staunton, according to the Charter of Henry II.” [12a]
In the same year, “the Constable of St. Briavell is ordered to remove, without delay, all forges from the Forest of Dean, except the King’s demesne forges, which belong to the Castle of St. Briavell, and ought to be sustained with trunks and old trees wherever they are found in the demesnes in the Forest—excepting two forges belonging to Ralph Avenell, concerning which he has the charter of King John, and excepting four ‘Blissahiis;’ Will. de Dene, & Robert de Alba Mara, & Will. de Abbenhale, & Thomas de Blakencia, and excepting the forges of our servants of St. Briavells, which ought to be sustained with dry and dead wood.” [12b]
Under date 4 Henry III. (1220), “John de Monmouth is commanded not to permit any forge to work, either with green or dry wood, in the Forest of Dean, besides the demesne forges; and to let all those know who have had forges, and who claim to have them by charter or letters patent of our (the
king’s) ancestors, or our special precepts, that they are to come without delay before H. de Burg, our justiciary, and our counsel, with those letters and charters, that it may be known who may have forges and who may not.” [13a]