|
Site Name:
|
Stumbletts Furnace |
OS Reference:
|
TQ 3990 3060
Click here to view on Where's The Path |
|
Parish:
|
Danehill |
Former Parish:
|
Maresfield |
|
Hundred:
|
Danehill Horsted |
District:
|
Wealden |
|
County:
|
East Sussex |
River Basin:
|
Ouse |
|
Site Type:
|
Furnace |
Period:
|
Modern |
|
Century:
|
16 |
Geology:
|
Ashdown Beds |
|
Geology notes:
|
|
|
Earliest known date:
|
1534 |
Latest known date:
|
1570 |
|
Dating evidence:
|
Built in 1534 on Duchy of Lancaster lands, it was at first let to John Levett who died in 1535. It was managed by William Levett, his brother, the Buxted ordnance maker (TNA DL336/7168-76). The furnace was leased with the Steel Forge in 1548 to Thomas Gaveller and Francis Challenor (TNA DL447/7187), and ownership was granted to John Gage in 1554 (ESRO SAS G/19/6). The last reference is in 1570 (TNA DL458/7836); it does not appear in the 1574 list.
|
|
Site Description:
|
Bay: L 70m H 3m/3.5m Breached by stream in S half; gap due to soil removal in N half. Righ-angle projection 45m long at centre to protect working area from flooding.
Water system: Pond dry. Overspill at extreme N end of bay joints main stream to W.
Working area: Furnace site just S of main stream close to bay. Glassy slag in the stream.
Re-use: Probably later the site of Vinolds Mill (Buckhurst Terrier 1597-8), Straker 1933:53).
|
|
Scheduled Monument Number:
|
1002202 (ES 443) |
HER Reference:
|
MES3019 (ANA) |
|
Bay Height (m.):
|
3.5 |
Bay Length (m.):
|
70 |
|
Classis Britannica tiles:
|
No |
Samian pottery:
|
No |
|
Cylindrical slag plugs:
|
No |
Two-finery forge:
|
No |
|
Excavation?:
|
No |
|
|
Excavation Details:
|
|
|
Description of site vegetation:
|
|
|
Slag Heap Area (m. sq) :
|
|
Slag heap grade (Hodgkinson 1999):
|
|
|
Persons Involved in Discovery:
|
|
|
|
|
|
References:
|
Straker, E.. (1936) A lost Tudor iron furnace found. Sussex Notes and Queries. 6. 7. pp. 217-218
(for this site see page(s) 217-8)
anon.. (1975) Inventory of Iron Sites visited by WIRG. Wealden Iron, Bulletin of the Wealden Iron Research Group. 1st series, 8. pp. 8-44
(for this site see page(s) 17-18)
Cleere, H. F. and Crossley, D. W.. (1995) The iron industry of the Weald. Merton Priory Press. Cardiff
(for this site see page(s) 359)
Hodgkinson, J. S.. (2008) History of the Iron Industry in West Hoathly. West Hoathly Local History Group. West Hoathly
(for this site see page(s) 15-16)
|
|
Persons with known connections to this site:
|
Averell, Gilbert - collier in 1543
Chalenor, Francis - Co-Lessee/ironmaster 1548-69?
Charlys, unknown - iron worker in 1543
Gage, John - Lessee 1554-6
Gaveller, Thomas - Co-Lessee/ironmaster 1548-69?
Jarrett, Charles - iron worker in 1543
Levett, John - Lessee/ironmaster 1534-5
Levett, William - Ironmaster 1535-48?
Scrace, unknown - iron worker in 1543
The Crown - Owner 1534-1554
|
Documents:
(click to download)
|
|
Images:
(click on a thumbnail to view)
|
|
|
