industrial biography-µÚ10ÕÂ
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
squandering¡¡what¡¡the¡¡father's¡¡had¡¡gathered£»¡¡and¡¡falling¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the
ranks¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Fowles¡¡family¡¡of¡¡Riverhall¡¡disappeared
altogether¡¡from¡¡Sussex¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them¡¡built¡¡the¡¡fine¡¡mansion¡¡of
Riverhall£»¡¡noble¡¡even¡¡in¡¡decay¡£¡¡¡¡Another¡¡had¡¡a¡¡grant¡¡of¡¡free¡¡warren
from¡¡King¡¡James¡¡over¡¡his¡¡estates¡¡in¡¡Wadhurst£»¡¡Frant£»¡¡Rotherfield£»¡¡and
Mayfield¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Lower¡¡says¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡in¡¡descent¡¡from¡¡this¡¡person¡¡kept
the¡¡turnpike¡gate¡¡at¡¡Wadhurst£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¡a
day¡labourer£»¡¡emigrated¡¡to¡¡America¡¡in¡¡1839£»¡¡carrying¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡the
sole¡¡relic¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡¡greatness£»¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡grant¡¡of¡¡free¡¡warren
given¡¡to¡¡his¡¡ancestor¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Barhams¡¡and¡¡Mansers¡¡were¡¡also¡¡great
iron¡men£»¡¡officiating¡¡as¡¡high¡¡sheriffs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county¡¡at¡¡different
times£»¡¡and¡¡occupying¡¡spacious¡¡mansions¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡branch¡¡of¡¡these¡¡families
terminated£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Lower¡¡says£»¡¡with¡¡Nicholas¡¡Barham£»¡¡who¡¡died¡¡in¡¡the
workhouse¡¡at¡¡Wadhurst¡¡in¡¡1788£»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡continues¡¡to¡¡be
represented¡¡by¡¡a¡¡wheelwright¡¡at¡¡Wadhurst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡name¡£
The¡¡iron¡¡manufacture¡¡of¡¡Sussex¡¡reached¡¡its¡¡height¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡close
of¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Elizabeth£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡trade¡¡became¡¡so¡¡prosperous¡¡that£»
instead¡¡of¡¡importing¡¡iron£»¡¡England¡¡began¡¡to¡¡export¡¡it¡¡in¡¡considerable
quantities£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡iron¡¡ordnance¡£¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡Thomas¡¡Leighton¡¡and
Sir¡¡Henry¡¡Neville¡¡had¡¡obtained¡¡patents¡¡from¡¡the¡¡queen£»¡¡which¡¡enabled
them¡¡to¡¡send¡¡their¡¡ordnance¡¡abroad£»¡¡the¡¡conseqnence¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡that
the¡¡Spaniards¡¡were¡¡found¡¡arming¡¡their¡¡ships¡¡and¡¡fighting¡¡us¡¡with¡¡guns
of¡¡our¡¡own¡¡manufacture¡£¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡¡Raleigh£»¡¡calling¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the
subject¡¡in¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Commons£»¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡heretofore¡¡one¡¡ship
of¡¡Her¡¡Majesty's¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡ten¡¡Spaniards£»¡¡but¡¡now£»¡¡by¡¡reason
of¡¡our¡¡own¡¡ordnance£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡hardly¡¡matcht¡¡one¡¡to¡¡one¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Proclamations
were¡¡issued¡¡forbidding¡¡the¡¡export¡¡of¡¡iron¡¡and¡¡brass¡¡ordnance£»¡¡and¡¡a
bill¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡Parliament¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡the¡¡trade£»¡¡but£»¡¡not
withstanding¡¡these¡¡prohibitions£»¡¡the¡¡Sussex¡¡guns¡¡long¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡be
smuggled¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡in¡¡considerable¡¡numbers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡almost
incredible£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡Camden£»¡¡¡¨how¡¡many¡¡guns¡¡are¡¡made¡¡of¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡in¡¡this
county¡£¡¡¡¡Count¡¡Gondomar¡¡£¨the¡¡Spanish¡¡ambassador£©¡¡well¡¡knew¡¡their
goodness¡¡when¡¡he¡¡so¡¡often¡¡begged¡¡of¡¡King¡¡James¡¡the¡¡boon¡¡to¡¡export
them¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Though¡¡the¡¡king¡¡refused¡¡his¡¡sanction£»¡¡it¡¡appears¡¡that¡¡Sir
Anthony¡¡Shirley¡¡of¡¡Weston£»¡¡an¡¡extensive¡¡iron¡master£»¡¡succeeded¡¡in
forwarding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡Spain¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡cannon¡£
So¡¡active¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Sussex¡¡manufacturers£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡brisk¡¡was¡¡the¡¡trade
they¡¡carried¡¡on£»¡¡that¡¡during¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡James¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¡it¡¡is¡¡supposed
one¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡iron¡¡produced¡¡in¡¡England¡¡was¡¡made
there¡£¡¡¡¡Simon¡¡Sturtevant£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡'Treatise¡¡of¡¡Metallica£»'¡¡published¡¡in
1612£»¡¡estimates¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡number¡¡of¡¡iron¡mills¡¡in¡¡England¡¡and¡¡Wales
at¡¡800£»¡¡of¡¡which£»¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨there¡¡are¡¡foure¡¡hundred¡¡milnes¡¡in¡¡Surry£»
Kent£»¡¡and¡¡Sussex£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡townsmen¡¡of¡¡Haslemere¡¡have¡¡testified¡¡and
numbered¡¡unto¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡townsmen¡¡of¡¡Haslemere¡¡must¡¡certainly¡¡have
been¡¡exaggerating£»¡¡unless¡¡they¡¡counted¡¡smiths'¡¡and¡¡farriers'¡¡shops¡¡in
the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡iron¡mills¡£¡¡¡¡About¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡that¡¡Sturtevant's
treatise¡¡was¡¡published£»¡¡there¡¡appeared¡¡a¡¡treatise¡¡entitled¡¡the
'Surveyor's¡¡Dialogue£»'¡¡by¡¡one¡¡John¡¡Norden£»¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡to
make¡¡out¡¡a¡¡case¡¡against¡¡the¡¡iron¡works¡¡and¡¡their¡¡being¡¡allowed¡¡to
burn¡¡up¡¡the¡¡timber¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡for¡¡fuel¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡Norden¡¡does¡¡not¡¡make
the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡iron¡works¡¡much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡third¡¡of¡¡Sturtevant's
estimate¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡or¡¡lately¡¡were¡¡in
Sussex¡¡neere¡¡140¡¡hammers¡¡and¡¡furnaces¡¡for¡¡iron£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡it¡¡and¡¡Surrey
adjoining¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡glasse¡houses¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡smaller¡¡number
stated¡¡by¡¡Norden£»¡¡however£»¡¡shows¡¡that¡¡Sussex¡¡was¡¡then¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡the
principal¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡iron¡trade¡£¡¡¡¡Camden¡¡vividly¡¡describes¡¡the¡¡noise
and¡¡bustle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manufacturethe¡¡working¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡hammers£»
which£»¡¡¡¨beating¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡iron£»¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡round¡¡about£»
day¡¡and¡¡night£»¡¡with¡¡continual¡¡noise¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡These¡¡hammers¡¡were¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most
part¡¡worked¡¡by¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡carefully¡¡stored¡¡in¡¡the¡¡artificial
¡¨Hammer¡ponds¡¨¡¡above¡¡described¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡hammer¡shaft¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡of¡¡ash£»
about¡¡9¡¡feet¡¡long£»¡¡clamped¡¡at¡¡intervals¡¡with¡¡iron¡¡hoops¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
worked¡¡by¡¡the¡¡revolutions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water¡wheel£»¡¡furnished¡¡with
projecting¡¡arms¡¡or¡¡knobs¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡hammer£»¡¡which¡¡fell¡¡as¡¡each¡¡knob
passed£»¡¡the¡¡rapidity¡¡of¡¡its¡¡action¡¡of¡¡course¡¡depending¡¡on¡¡the
velocity¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡water¡wheel¡¡revolved¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡forge¡blast¡¡was
also¡¡worked¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part¡¡by¡¡water¡power¡£¡¡¡¡Where¡¡the¡¡furnaces¡¡were
small£»¡¡the¡¡blast¡¡was¡¡produced¡¡by¡¡leather¡¡bellows¡¡worked¡¡by¡¡hand£»¡¡or
by¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡a¡¡gin¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡foot¡blasts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earlier
iron¡smelters¡¡were¡¡so¡¡imperfect¡¡that¡¡but¡¡a¡¡small¡¡proportion¡¡of¡¡the
ore¡¡was¡¡reduced£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡iron¡makers¡¡of¡¡later¡¡times£»¡¡more
particularly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡of¡¡Dean£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡digging¡¡for¡¡ironstone£»
resorted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beds¡¡of¡¡ancient¡¡scoriae¡¡for¡¡their¡¡principal¡¡supply¡¡of
the¡¡mineral¡£
Notwithstanding¡¡the¡¡large¡¡number¡¡of¡¡furnaces¡¡in¡¡blast¡¡throughout¡¡the
county¡¡of¡¡Sussex¡¡at¡¡the¡¡period¡¡we¡¡refer¡¡to£»¡¡their¡¡produce¡¡was
comparatively¡¡small£»¡¡and¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡measured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡enormous¡¡produce
of¡¡modern¡¡iron¡works£»¡¡for¡¡while¡¡an¡¡iron¡furnace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present¡¡day
will¡¡easily¡¡turn¡¡out¡¡150¡¡tons¡¡of¡¡pig¡¡per¡¡week£»¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡the¡¡older
furnaces¡¡did¡¡not¡¡produce¡¡more¡¡than¡¡from¡¡three¡¡to¡¡four¡¡tons¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of
the¡¡last¡¡extensive¡¡contracts¡¡executed¡¡in¡¡Sussex¡¡was¡¡the¡¡casting¡¡of
the¡¡iron¡¡rails¡¡which¡¡enclose¡¡St¡£¡¡¡¡Paul's¡¡Cathedral¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡contract¡¡was
thought¡¡too¡¡large¡¡for¡¡one¡¡iron¡master¡¡to¡¡undertake£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was
consequently¡¡distributed¡¡amongst¡¡several¡¡contractors£»¡¡though¡¡the
principal¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work¡¡was¡¡executed¡¡at¡¡Lamberhurst£»¡¡near
Tunbridge¡¡Wells¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡to¡¡produce¡¡the¡¡comparatively¡¡small¡¡quantity¡¡of
iron¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡old¡¡works£»¡¡the¡¡consumption¡¡of¡¡timber¡¡was
enormous£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡every¡¡ton¡¡of¡¡pig¡iron¡¡required¡¡four¡¡loads
of¡¡timber¡¡converted¡¡into¡¡charcoal¡¡fuel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡every¡¡ton
of¡¡bar¡iron¡¡required¡¡three¡¡additional¡¡loads¡£¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡notwithstanding
the¡¡indispensable¡¡need¡¡of¡¡iron£»¡¡the¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manufacture£»¡¡by
threatening¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡timber¡¡of¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡counties£»
came¡¡to¡¡be¡¡regarded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡national¡¡calamity¡£¡¡¡¡Up¡¡to¡¡a
certain¡¡point£»¡¡the¡¡clearing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Weald¡¡of¡¡its¡¡dense¡¡growth¡¡of
underwood¡¡had¡¡been¡¡of¡¡advantage£»¡¡by¡¡affording¡¡better¡¡opportunities
for¡¡the¡¡operations¡¡of¡¡agriculture¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡¡¨voragious¡¡iron¡mills¡¨
were¡¡proceeding¡¡to¡¡swallow¡¡up¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡would¡¡burn£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡old
forest¡¡growths¡¡were¡¡rapidly¡¡disappearing¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡entire¡¡wood¡¡was¡¡soon
exhausted£»¡¡and¡¡long¡¡time¡¡was¡¡needed¡¡before¡¡it¡¡grew¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡At
Lamberhurst¡¡alone£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡produce¡¡was¡¡only¡¡about¡¡five¡¡tons¡¡of
iron¡¡a¡week£»¡¡the¡¡annual¡¡consumption¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡was¡¡about¡¡200£»000¡¡cords£¡
Wood¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡only¡¡material¡¡used¡¡for¡¡fuel¡¡generallya
strong¡¡prejudice¡¡existing¡¡against¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡sea¡coal¡¡for¡¡domestic
purposes¡£*
¡¡£§footnote¡£¡£¡£
It¡¡was¡¡then¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡sea¡¡or¡¡pit¡coal¡¡was¡¡poisonous¡¡when¡¡burnt¡¡in
dwellings£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡especially¡¡injurious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡human
complexion¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡diseases¡¡were¡¡attributed¡¡to¡¡its¡¡use£»¡¡and¡¡at
one¡¡time¡¡it¡¡was¡¡even¡¡penal¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Londoners¡¡only¡¡began¡¡to
reconcile¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡coal¡¡when¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡within¡¡reach¡¡of
the¡¡metropolis¡¡had¡¡been¡¡nearly¡¡all¡¡burnt¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡other¡¡fuel¡¡was¡¡to
be¡¡had¡£
¡¡¡£¡£¡££§
It¡¡therefore¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡available¡¡fuel
left¡¡within¡¡practicable¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡the¡¡metropolis£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡contingency
of¡¡having¡¡to¡¡face¡¡the¡¡rigorous¡¡cold¡¡of¡¡an¡¡English¡¡winter¡¡without¡¡fuel
naturally¡¡occasioning¡¡much¡¡alarm£»¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡was
deemed¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡remedy¡¡the¡¡apprehended¡¡evil¡£
To¡¡check¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡near¡¡London£»¡¡an¡¡Act¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡in
1581¡¡prohibiting¡¡its¡¡conversion¡¡into¡¡fuel¡¡for¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡iron
within¡¡fourteen¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Thames£»¡¡forbidding¡¡the¡¡erection¡¡of¡¡new
ironworks¡¡within¡¡twenty¡two¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡and¡¡restricting¡¡the
number¡¡of¡¡works¡¡in¡¡Kent£»¡¡Surrey£»¡¡and¡¡Sussex£»¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡above¡¡limits¡£
Similar¡¡enactments¡¡were¡¡made¡¡in¡¡future¡¡Parliaments¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same
object£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡checking¡¡the¡¡trade£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡of
the¡¡Sussex¡¡ironmasters¡¡were¡¡under¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡removing¡¡their
works¡¡elsewhere¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡migrated¡¡to¡¡Glamorganshire£»¡¡in¡¡South
Wales£»¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡abundance¡¡of¡¡timber¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡ironstone¡¡in
that¡¡quarter£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡set¡¡up¡¡their¡¡forges£»¡¡more¡¡particularly¡¡at
Aberdare¡¡and¡¡Merthyr¡¡Tydvil¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Llewellin¡¡has¡¡recently¡¡published¡¡an
interesting¡¡account¡¡of¡¡their¡¡proceedings£»¡¡with¡¡descriptions¡¡of¡¡their
works£»*
¡¡£§footnote¡¡¡£¡£¡£
Archaeologia¡¡Cambrensis£»¡¡3rd¡¡Series£»¡¡No¡£¡¡34£»¡¡April£»¡¡1863¡£¡¡¡¡Art¡£
¡¨Sussex¡¡Ironmasters¡¡in¡¡Glamorganshire¡£¡¨
¡¡¡£¡£¡££§
remains¡¡of¡¡which¡¡still¡¡exist¡¡at¡¡Llwydcoed£»¡¡Pontyryns£»¡¡and¡¡other
places¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Aberdare¡¡valley¡£¡¡¡¡Among¡¡the¡¡Sussex¡¡masters¡¡who¡¡settled
in¡¡Glamorganshire¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡carrying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡iron
manufacture£»¡¡were¡¡Walter¡¡Burrell£»¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡John¡¡Ray£»¡¡the
naturalist£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Morleys¡¡of¡¡Glynde¡¡in¡¡Sussex£»¡¡the¡¡Relfes¡¡from
Mayfield£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Cheneys¡¡from¡¡Crawley¡£
Notwithstanding¡¡these¡¡migrations¡¡of¡¡enterprising¡¡manufacturers£»¡¡the
iron¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡Sussex¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡exist¡¡until¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the
seventeenth¡¡century£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡waste¡¡of¡¡timber¡¡was¡¡again¡¡urged¡¡upon
the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡Parliament£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡penalties¡¡for¡¡infringing¡¡the
statutes¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡more¡¡rigorously¡¡enforced¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡trade¡¡then
suffered¡¡a¡¡more¡¡serious¡¡check£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡the¡¡civil¡¡wars£»¡¡a¡¡heavy
blow¡¡was¡¡given¡¡to¡¡it¡¡by¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡works¡¡belonging¡¡to¡¡all
royalists£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡accomplished¡¡by¡¡a¡¡division¡¡of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡under¡¡Sir
William¡¡Waller¡£¡¡¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Welsh¡¡ironworks¡¡were¡¡razed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground
about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡not¡¡again¡¡rebuilt¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡after¡¡the
Restoration£»¡¡in¡¡1674£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡ironworks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡of¡¡Dean
were¡¡demolished£»¡¡leaving¡¡only¡¡such¡¡to¡¡be¡¡supplied¡¡with¡¡ore¡¡as¡¡were
beyond¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡limits£»¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡alleged¡¡for¡¡this¡¡measure¡¡being
lest¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡manufacture¡¡should¡¡endanger¡¡the¡¡supply¡¡of¡¡timber
required¡¡for¡¡shipbuilding¡¡and¡¡other¡¡necessary¡¡purposes¡£
From¡¡this¡¡time¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡manufacture¡¡of¡¡Sussex£»¡¡as¡¡of¡¡England
generally£»¡¡rapidly¡¡declined¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡1740¡¡there¡¡were¡¡only¡¡fifty¡nine
furnaces¡¡in¡¡all¡¡England£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡ten¡¡were¡¡in¡¡Sussex£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡1788
there¡¡were¡¡only¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡years¡¡later£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Sussex¡¡iron¡¡furnaces
were¡¡blown¡¡out¡¡altogether¡£¡¡¡¡Farnhurst£»¡¡in¡¡western£»¡¡and¡¡Ashburnham£»¡¡in
eastern¡¡Sussex£»¡¡witnessed¡¡the¡¡total¡¡extinction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manufacture¡£
The¡¡din¡¡of¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡hammer¡¡was¡¡hushed£»¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡of¡¡the¡¡furnace
faded£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡blast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bellows¡¡was¡¡blown£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡district
returned¡¡to¡¡its¡¡original¡¡rural¡¡solitude¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡furnace¡ponds
were¡¡drained¡¡and¡¡planted¡¡with¡¡hops¡¡or¡¡willows£»¡¡others¡¡formed
beautiful¡¡lakes¡¡in¡¡retired¡¡pleasure¡grounds£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡remainder¡¡were
used¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡flour¡mills£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡streams¡¡in¡¡North¡¡Kent£»¡¡instead¡¡of
driving¡¡fulling¡mills£»¡¡were¡¡employe