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near Otley； in the fourteenth century；*
＇footnote。。。
The following is an extract of this curious document； which is dated
the 26th Dec。 1352： 〃Ceste endenture fait entre monsire Richard de
Goldesburghe； chivaler；dune part； et Robert Totte； seignour； dautre
tesmoigne qe le dit monsire Richard ad graunte et lesse al dit Robert
deuz Olyveres contenaunz vynt quatre blomes de la feste seynt Piere
ad vincula lan du regne le Roi Edward tierce apres le conqueste vynt
sysme； en sun parke de Creskelde； rendant al dit monsire Richard
chesqune semayn quatorzse soutz dargent duraunt les deux Olyvers
avaunt dist； a tenir et avoir al avaunt dit Robert del avaunt dit
monsire Richard de la feste seynt Piere avaunt dist； taunque le bois
soit ars du dit parke a la volunte le dit monsire Richard saunz
interrupcione ＇e le dicte monsieur Richard trovera a dit Robert urre
suffisaunt pur lez ditz Olyvers pur le son donaunt： these words are
interlined＇。 Et fait a savoir qe le dit Robert ne nule de soens
coupard ne abatera nule manere darbre ne de boys put les deuz olyvers
avaunt ditz mes par la veu et la lyvere le dit monsire Richard ； ou
par ascun autre par le dit monsire Richard assigne。 En tesmoigaunz
（sic） de quenx choses a cestes presentes endentures les parties
enterchaungablement ount mys lour seals。 Escript a Creskelde le
meskerdy en le semayn de Pasque lan avaunt diste。〃
It is probable that the 〃blomes〃 referred to in this agreement were
the bloomeries or fires in which the iron was made； and that the
〃olyveres〃 were forges or erections； each of which contained so many
bloomeries； but were of limited durability； and probably perished in
the using。
。。。＇
though the manufacture near that place has long since ceased。
Although the making of iron was thus carried on in various parts of
England in the Middle Ages； the quantity produced was altogether
insufficient to meet the ordinary demand； as it appears from our
early records to have long continued one of the principal articles
imported from foreign countries。 English iron was not only dearer；
but it was much inferior in quality to that manufactured abroad； and
hence all the best arms and tools continued to be made of foreign
iron。 Indeed the scarcity of this metal occasionally led to great
inconvenience； and to prevent its rising in price Parliament enacted；
in 1354； that no iron； either wrought or unwrought； should be
exported； under heavy penalties。 For nearly two hundred yearsthat
is； throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuriesthe English
market was principally supplied with iron and steel from Spain and
Germany； the foreign merchants of the Steelyard doing a large and
profitable trade in those commodities。 While the woollen and other
branches of trade were making considerable progress； the manufacture
of iron stood still。 Among the lists of articles； the importation of
which was prohibited in Edward IV。's reign； with a view to the
protection of domestic manufactures； we find no mention of iron；
which was still； as a matter of necessity； allowed to come freely
from abroad。
The first indications of revival in the iron manufacture showed
themselves in Sussex； a district in which the Romans had established
extensive works； and where smelting operations were carried on to a
partial extent in the neighbourhood of Lewes； in the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries； where the iron was principally made into nails
and horse…shoes。 The county abounds in ironstone； which is contained
in the sandstone beds of the Forest ridge； lying between the chalk
and oolite of the district； called by geologists the Hastings sand。
The beds run in a north…westerly direction； by Ashburnham and
Heathfield； to Crowborough and thereabouts。 In early times the region
was covered with wood； and was known as the Great Forest of Anderida。
The Weald； or wild wood； abounded in oaks of great size； suitable for
smelting ore； and the proximity of the mineral to the timber； as well
as the situation of the district in the neighbourhood of the capital；
sufficiently account for the Sussex iron…works being among the most
important which existed in England previous to the discovery of
smelting by pit…coal。
The iron manufacturers of the south were especially busy during the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries。 Their works were established near
to the beds of ore； and in places where water…power existed； or could
be provided by artificial means。 Hence the numerous artificial ponds
which are still to be found all over the Sussex iron district。 Dams
of earth； called 〃pond…bays；〃 were thrown across watercourses； with
convenient outlets built of masonry； wherein was set the great wheel
which worked the hammer or blew the furnace。 Portions of the
adjoining forest…land were granted or leased to the iron…smelters；
and the many places still known by the name of 〃Chart〃 in the Weald；
probably mark the lands chartered for the purpose of supplying the
iron…works with their necessary fuel。 The cast…iron tombstones and
slabs in many Sussex churchyards；the andirons and chimney backs*
＇footnote。。。
The back of a grate has recently been found； cast by Richard Leonard
at Brede Furnace in 1636。 It is curious as containing a
representation of the founder with his dog and cups； a drawing of the
furnace； with the wheelbarrow and other implements for the casting；
and on a shield the pincers and other marks of the blacksmith。
Leonard was tenant of the Sackville furnace at Little
Udimore。Sussex Archaeological Collections； vol。xii。
。。。＇
still found in old Sussex mansions and farm…houses； and such names as
Furnace Place； Cinder Hill； Forge Farm； and Hammer Pond； which are of
very frequent occurrence throughout the county； clearly mark the
extent and activity of this ancient branch of industry。*
＇footnote 。。。
For an interesting account of the early iron industry of Sussex see
M。 A。 LOWER'S Contributions to Literature； Historical； Antiquarian；
and Metrical。 London； 1854。
。。。＇
Steel was also manufactured at several places in the county； more
particularly at Steel…Forge Land； Warbleton； and at Robertsbridge。
The steel was said to be of good quality； resembling Swedishboth
alike depending for their excellence on the exclusive use of charcoal
in smelting the ore；iron so produced maintaining its superiority
over coal…smelted iron to this day。
When cannon came to be employed in war； the nearness of Sussex to
London and the Cinque Forts gave it a great advantage over the
remoter iron…producing districts in the north and west of England；
and for a long time the iron…works of this county enjoyed almost a
monopoly of the manufacture。 The metal was still too precious to be
used for cannon balls； which were hewn of stone from quarries on
Maidstone Heath。 Iron was only available； and that in limited
quantities； for the fabrication of the cannon themselves； and
wrought…iron was chiefly used for the purpos