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Site Name:
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Biddenden Hammer Mill Forge and Furnace |
OS Reference:
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TQ 8216 3831
Click here to view on Where's The Path |
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Parish:
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Biddenden |
Former Parish:
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Hundred:
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Barkley |
District:
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Ashford |
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County:
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Kent |
River Basin:
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Medway |
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Site Type:
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Furnace, Forge |
Period:
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Modern |
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Century:
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17, 16 |
Geology:
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Tunbridge Wells Sand |
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Geology notes:
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Earliest known date:
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1570 |
Latest known date:
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1667 |
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Dating evidence:
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Sir Richard Baker built this forge in 1570, and he was in dispute with the parishioners of Biddenden over damage to the new bridge over the overflow channel in 1583 (Kent History and Library Centre P26/28/2). Baker was the owner in the lists of 1574 and 1588 (Staffs. RO D593/S/4/28/13, 16), but the furnace mentioned in Sir Richard Baker's will of 1591 is almost certainly Frith in Hawkhurst (TNA PROB 11/84/86) as there is a clear statement in 1588 that there was no furnace at Biddenden at that time. A bill to establish a lease of property which included the forge, between Sir Richard Baker's widow and Sir Stephen Thornhurst and his wife, may not have gone ahead (TNA C 2/Eliz/B18/43). However, a furnace had been built by 1606 as, in the settlement following Sir Henry Baker's marriage, there is a clear reference to both a furnace and forge in the property called Upper Betnam (KHLC U24/T278), in the occupation of Peter Courthop and Thomas Washer. The inquisition held on the death of Sir Henry in 1624 also makes reference to a furnace as well as a forge, by then in the hands of Thomas Courthop (KHLC U24/T425). A furnace in Biddenden or Sissinghurst was stocked in 1653 and 1664, and a forge stated to be at Horsfeild near Sissinghurst also worked in 1653 and 1667, although this may be evidence of confusion with the forge at Hothfield (q.v.). Working at this date, however, is confirmed by parish overseers' assessments which record the tenants as Thomas Plummer, Robert Drayner and Alex Homesbe (KHLC P26/12/1). However, the valuation for the stock-in-trade declines until none is recorded in 1666. A nil return in 1674, when the tenants were replaced by the descendants of Sir John Baker presumably indicates abandonment.
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Site Description:
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Bay: L 220m; extension to S to Hammer Wood probably dates from construction of the corn mill in the late 18th century H (E end) 1.75m/2.5m.
Water system: Pond dry. Straight channel used by former cornmill may have been the original spillway for the ironworks.
Working area: Furnace site in angle of bay at E end. Depression here represents wheelpit, whence channel runs to stream. Scattered bricks, tiles, round forge bottoms, cinder, glassy furnace slag. Rectangular iron slab 1.25m x 75cm. Forge site is probably on the east side of the Hammer stream where a level area with a bank on the east side is adjacent to forge slag in the stream.
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Scheduled Monument Number:
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HER Reference:
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TQ 83 NW 78 |
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Bay Height (m.):
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2.5 |
Bay Length (m.):
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220 |
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Classis Britannica tiles:
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No |
Samian pottery:
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No |
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Cylindrical slag plugs:
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No |
Two-finery forge:
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No |
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Excavation?:
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Yes |
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Excavation Details:
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Brief excavation c.1970 by the Wealden Archaeological Research Group (Arch Cant 83, 1971, 192), led by Mr A. B. Cardwell, revealed a wheel pit and brick and tile debris at the eastern end of the bay. Slag found, including a bear, suggested a blast furnace. A channel running from the excavated area across to the Hammer Stream had evidence of timber shoring.
A visit in 2012, when water levels were low, revealed quantities of forge slag in the Hammer Stream (TQ 8211 3828), east of the mill house, and blast furnace slag further to the east close to the rising ground (TQ 8216 3831).
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Description of site vegetation:
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Slag Heap Area (m. sq) :
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Slag heap grade (Hodgkinson 1999):
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Persons Involved in Discovery:
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References:
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Hodgkinson, J. S.. (2014) Biddenden Hammer Mill: Site Survey. Wealden Iron, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group. Second series, 34. pp. 63-8
Cattell, C. S.. (1971) An Evaluation of the Loseley List of Ironworks within the Weald in the Year 1588. Archaeologia Cantiana. 86. pp. 85-92
Straker, E. (1931) Wealden Iron. Bell. London
(for this site see page(s) 282-3)
Cleere, H. F. and Crossley, D. W.. (1995) The iron industry of the Weald. Merton Priory Press. Cardiff
(for this site see page(s) 315-6)
anon.. (1971) Investigations and Excavations during the year. Archaeologia Cantiana. 85. pp. 175-195
(for this site see page(s) 192)
anon.. (1976) Inventory of Sites visited by WIRG. Wealden Iron, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group. 1st series, 9. pp. 2-18
(for this site see page(s) 17)
Hodgkinson, J. S.. (2004) Ironworks in Late-16th Century Kent. Wealden Iron, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group. Second series, 24. pp. 6-16
(for this site see page(s) 7)
Crossley, D. W.. (1975) The Lists of Furnaces and Forges of 1664. Wealden Iron, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group. First series, 8. pp. 2-7
(for this site see page(s) 4, 6)
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Persons with known connections to this site:
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Baker, Henry - Owner 1596-1623
Baker, John - Owner 1653-61
Baker, John - Owner 1623-53
Baker, John - Owner 1594-6
Baker, Richard - Owner/ironmaster 1570-94
Barden, Charles - Hammerman in 1572
Barr, John - forgeman c.1620-60
Bluet, Stephen - hammerman in 1620
Bluett, Elias - hammerman 1607-18
Borden - hammerman in 1572
Constable, George - ?wire maker 1569-1610
Courthop, Thomas - Lessee/ironmaster bef 1624-?
Courthope, Peter - Co-lessee/ironmaster bef 1606-bef 1624
Drayner, Robert - Co-lessee bef 1658-1673
Haitowe, Michael - forgeman ?-1611
Homesbe, Alex - Co-Lessee bef 1658-1673
Lenward, Lawrence - founder in 1655
Newton, Elizabeth - ?Owner 1661-?
Plummer, Thomas - Co-lessee bef 1658-bef 1673
Pullen, Anthony - bef 1624-1637
Standen, James - Hammerman in 1663
Standen, Thomas - fineryman in 1637
Washer, Thomas - Co-Lessee bef 1606-bef 1624
Willie, Richerd - Clerk in 1588
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Documents:
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Images:
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