“Sowdley Furnace, built 3 years—Qu. if rebuilt? Bridge house, pt built by the farmers, pt old and decayd, Trow leading to the wheel, ½ made new 5 years since, decayd, 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 & Penstocks made new by the Farmers, decayed.
“Lydbrook Furnace, 23ft long, 9 bottom, 23ft deep, new built 3 yrs since from the ground, 3 ft higher than before, much cracked. A great Buttress behind the Furnace to strengthen it.
“Lydbrook Forge.—1 Chaffery, 2 Fineries, House built 4 years, being burnt by accident.”
Besides the above, Mr. Wyrrall also transcribed the
following additional particulars from a MS. dated 23 September, 1635, and endorsed,—“The booke of Survey for the Forest of Deane Iron work, and the Warrant annexed unto yt.”
“Cannope Furnace.—Now blowinge, and likely to contynue aboute 3 weeks. The most part new built, and the rest repaired by the Farmers about 4 years since. Stone walls, about 60lb, consistinge of the stone body thereof 22 foote square, wherein are:—
“In the fore front 4 Sowes of Iron }
and the Tempiron Wall 3 Sowes } 7 Sowes.
“A Wheele, 22 Foote diamr, 7 Iron Whops, one the Waste, made about three years since. With Shafte and all things belonginge about 20lb, in good repaire.
“The Furnace Howse half tiled, built with timber 4 years since by the Farmers, cost about 80lb, in repaire.