In the same year as aforesaid, "John de Monmouth is commanded to permit
the Abbot and Monks of Flaxlegh to have their forge working in the Forest
of Dean, according to the charter of Richard I. (which they have
thereof), in the same manner as they had it in the time of King John,
notwithstanding that all forges are prohibited in the Forest except the
demesne forges." {13b}
In the same year, John de Monmouth is commanded "to permit Walter de Lacy
to have his forge (fabrica) in the Forest of Dean as he was accustomed to
have it, temp. Hen. II. and John, which was prohibited at the time of our
general prohibition." Now, also, John de Monmouth received the king's
directions as follows:--"William Fitz-Warren has shown the king that
whereas Walter de Lacy gave him a forge, which the said Walter and his
ancestors have been accustomed to have, temp. Hen. II., Ric. I., and
John, and which was prohibited in our general prohibition--we command you
to allow the said William to have the said forge (fabrica) moveable in
the Forest; but that the forge which the said Walter erected without our
order shall remain quiet (remanenta otiosa)."
The next year, 1221, John de Monmouth is ordered to allow Philip de
Bantun, Rob. de Alba Mara, John de Lacy, Will. de Dene, Will de
Abbenhale, and Thomas de Blakeney, foresters of fee in the Forest of
Dean, and Nigell Hathway, Martin de la Boze, John Fitz-Hugh, Richard
Wither, Rob. Fitz-Warren, Will. Cadel, John Blund, Alexander de Staurs,
Roger Wither, John Fitz-Gadway, serventes de feods, to have their
"forgias itinerantes ad mortuum et siccum" as they were accustomed to
have them temp. Ric. I. and John. {14a} A similar privilege was granted,
the same year, to Matilda de Cautilupe and Henry, Earl of Warwick--the
latter at Lidenie--to have their "forgia," as well as to Walter de Aure
to have his "forgia itinerans," and Richd. de Estun his "fabrica." {14b}
So, likewise, in 1223 (7 Hen. III.), the Monks of Flaxlegh were directed
to have "forgiam suam," as in the time of King John.
A document {14c} without a date, but unquestionably belonging to the
early part of the reign of Hen. III., to whom it seems to be addressed by
way of an official report on the state of the Forest, affords the
earliest compendium that has been discovered of the extent of its iron
works at this period.
Concerning the "Fabricis," these authorities say, that the Monks of
Flaxley have "unam fabricam arrantem" at Ardland, in the Forest of our
lord the King, and have, where they please, each week, two oaks, &c. &c.
Mabilia de Cautelup has one "fabricam arrantem," at Ettelaw, and three
"fossatas" of green wood and one oak for the same, &c. They say, also,
that John Malemort (gruyer) holds one "fabricam," &c., and fells one oak
each week, where he pleases.
They likewise say that the constable of St. Briavel's Castle holds, in
the same place, "unam fabricam," which is sustained by what is felled for
the "fabricam" of the said John, and by other perquisites, &c.
Concerning the "Fabricis" which are situated in the vills of the forest.
They say that at Bicknour are sometimes four "fabrica," and sometimes
two, and sometimes three, from which the Constable takes for each "VIIs.
if they be 'arrantes continue' for one year; and the forester, who is
forsooth lord of each vill, receives IIId. any way per week from each
fabrica; and they are sustained by charcoal made in Wallea, and by
perquisites in the Forest." They say, too, that at Ruwardin there are at
one time or other "V. fabrica arrantes," and sometimes less, in the same
way as the constable and lord of each vill take, as aforesaid.
They say also that at Magnam Dene are "VIIIto fabricae arrantes" of
charcoal, made without the Forest bounds; and the constable and lord of
Dene and of Abbenhal take of the above-named "fabricae" as is first of
all stated.
They say also that at Parvam Dene are "IIIIor. fabricae arrantes" of the
perquisites in the Forest, and sometimes also of charcoal made beyond the
Forest bounds, and from thence the constable and lord of the same will
take as has been already said.
They say also that Nigel of Lideneye holds one "fabricam," at Lideneye,
"arrantem" sometimes from the forest, and sometimes with charcoal made in
Wallea, from whence the constable receives VIIs. per annum.
They say, too, that Walter de Ewies holds one "fabricam arrantem at
Lideneye, from whence in the same manner the constable takes as has been
said before."
Peculiar interest seems to attach to the above return, not only from its
high antiquity, but also because it gives other instances besides that of
the monks of Flaxley, in which oak trees were granted to individuals for
sustaining their forges. The wording of the report likewise indicates a
new meaning, and, no doubt, the correct one--of the term "arrantes," as
applied to the forges, which it proves to signify _fed_, _supported_,
_replenished_, &c., and not _moveable_, as has been heretofore
supposed--a term that seems singularly appropriate, considering how
rapidly charcoal fuel burns away when urged by a strong blast, and, in
consequence, the frequent necessity of renewing it. Besides which, the
forge would have to be repeatedly fed with fresh charges of ore.
Gloucester was for ages doubtless the market to which a large portion of
the iron made in the Forest of Dean was sent for sale; and so superior
was its quality, that Gloucestria, or Glovernia, hardware was much sought
after. The following letter--addressed by Simon de Surtiz to Ralph de
Wareham, Bishop of Chichester, 1217-1223, or Ralph Neville, who held the
see 1223-1245, relative to the purchase of iron, affords an instance of
this fact:--
"I have inspected the letters of his Lordship H. de Kynard, sent to
us by you, and which I transmit to your holiness, signifying that he
has taken amiss your command respecting the iron to be bought,
writing to you that x. marks for the one lot of iron, and c. shilling
for the other lot, ought to do.
"Wherefore since the same H. has not rightly understood your command,
if it pleases you to write to him, you will that he have made for you
x. marks of inferior iron, supposing he is able to do so. But if
otherwise, then that it be v. marks of the heavier and v. marks of
the lighter sort, and that the kind made at Gloucester is what is
wanted.
"If it please you, write also to the Lord Abbot of Gloucester, so
that he work with care for my Lord of Winchester, your guest, that he
be as easy as he can about the iron, and without delay.
* * * * *
"Moreover, my Lord H. de Kynard consults you that the iron may be
wanted at Bristol and not at Gloucester. But if he yield to your
wish I would recommend you that it be brought to Gloucester, as more
easy, and without risk. I await your convenience until you can be
brought to Winchester."
Amongst the Patent Rolls of the 17th of this same reign (1233), is one
entitled "De Forgeis Levand," in Foresta de Dene. And, in 1255, there is
another relating to forges in the same. {17}
The issues in money to the Crown, from the mining and making of iron in
the Forest, were stated by James Treysil, Custos of the Castle and Manor
of St. Briavels, to have amounted to the following sums for the year
commencing 13 Jan., 39 Hen. III. (1255), and ending 16 Nov., 40 Hen. III.
(1256):--
pounds s. d.
22 10 0 from the king's
great forge, placed
out at farm for the
time aforesaid.
8 4 6 from foreign forges
(_forinsecariis_,
_i.e._, beyond the
limits of the
Forest, for the
same period).
4 9 3 from forges within
the Forest.
23 1 4 from the great and
little mines.
58 5 1
The king's "great forge," mentioned above, yielded, in after years, 26
pounds 19s. 3d. to the Custos, but was ere long suppressed, as
detrimental to the Forest woods. Its being named here suggests a
solution of the term "levantis," or small, generally given to the other
forges of the district. They were urged, probably, with such bellows as
may be seen carved on an ancient tombstone in Newland Churchyard.
In the year 1841, when that part of the old road leading up to the
Hawthorns from Hownal was altered, near the brook, below Rudge Farm, the
hearths of five small forges, cut out of the sandstone rock, and
curiously pitched round the bottom with small pebbles, were laid open.
An iron tube, seven or eight inches long, and one inch and a half bore,
apparently the nozzle of a pair of bellows, was also found; as well as
scores of old tobacco-pipes, as they seemed, bits of iron, much rusted,
and broken earthenware, besides a piece of silver coin. Unfortunately,
none of these articles were preserved, or they might have thrown some
light on the subject.
The Fabric Rolls of Westminster Abbey, under date 37 Hen. III. (1253),
contain the ensuing items:--
s. d.
To Henry de Pont, for 14 0
iron bolts
To Richard de Celir, 21 0
for four hundred iron
clamps from
Gloucester (4 lbs.)
For carriage of the 3 4
same iron
Also--
To Richard de Celir, 16 0
for rods of iron from
Gloucester (10 lbs.)
For carriage of the 6 8
same
Thus widely spread was the good fame of the Forest metal.
By an Inquisition of the 52 Hen. III. (1268), to ascertain what
privileges the abbot and convent of Tynterne were accustomed to have in
the Forest, the jurors returned that--"the said abbot and convent, by
charters of the King's predecessors, are accustomed to have mines in the
Forest for their own forge freely, and have never given anything for the
said mines." {19}
They reported, also, that "by charters of the Earl of Hereford it was
granted to the said abbot and convent to have another forge in the said
Forest, which was in use in the time of the said jurors."
Ralph de Sandwico, Custos of the Castle and Manor of St. Briavels, in his
return of monies received on behalf of the Crown from the iron mines and
forges during the 4th of Edward I. (1276), {20a} states as paid:--
pounds s. d.
23 6 9.5 from the great and
little mines of
iron and coal.
11 6 0 for rent of forges
in the Forest.
5 15 0 by sale of cinders
(cineribus).
This last item seems to show that even then it was customary to use the
old cinders left from the still more ancient workings.
A regard of the Forest, {20b} taken the 10th Edward I. (A.D. 1282), "De
Forgeis in Foresta," records:--
"It has been presented by the regarders that many 'forgiae errantes'
have been and are still in the Forest, and that those who have held
and still hold them commit many evils in the Forest, above the wood
and beneath it, both by injuring the trees as well as by means of
their forges, great detriment being done in the Forest by them and
their wood colliers. And these are the names of such as have held or
still hold them, viz.:--
"_Of Parva Dene_.--Ralph Page, William the sharesmith, Thomas Hewlin,
William of Hereford, John of Hereford--in all 5.
"_Of Blakeney_.--Hugo Textor, together with Walter of Blakeney, Adam
of Erlyxforde (Ayleford), John Boyce--altogether 3.
"_Of Ettelano_ (Etloe).--Richard Pole.
"_Of Lideneye_.--John Scot, Stephen Edys.
"_Of East Sancto Briavello_.--Roger Spore, Adam Betrech, Stephen
Marlemort, Nicholas the Pichehere, John Hurel, Philipp Martin, Henry
the Bole, Adam Fitawe, Richard Walensis, John Missor, Henry Fitz
William of Tullic, William the jailer, William of
Ruerdean--altogether 13.
"_Of Staunton_.--Robert le Noreys, Godfrey le Stempore, William
Dorby, Nigel de Staunton, Adam le Coliere, Thomas the jailer, William
Cambel, Peter le Monner, Philipp the clerk, William Clayneberd--in
all 10.
"_Of Bikemore_ (English Bicknor).--Walter Pisum, another by the same.
"_Of Hopo Malhoysel_ (Hope Mansel).--The Abbot of Gloucester, Henry
Duke of Gloucester.
"_Of Reruwardin_.--William, son of Matilda, Roger Fowel, Nicholas
Charlemayne, Thomas Mone, Roger Kingessone, Thomas le Leye, William
Baret, William Jordan--altogether 8.
"_Of Magna Dene_.--Adam Simund, Robert le Paumer, Reginald Balloc,
Hugo le Paumer, Robert de la Zone, Galfrid the Nailer, Robert Dun,
Thomas Balloc, Hugo Godwyn, Phelicia Pecoe, John Geffrey, Nicholas
Drayclasz, Galfrid Dobel, Richard Strongbowe--in all 14."
According to this return, there were 60 forges (fabrica) at work in the
district of the Forest at this period. Of these, 19 were situated on the
east side, towards Gloucester; 6 were on the south, towards the Severn;
23 were on the west, towards the Wye; and 12 were on the north, towards
Herefordshire. Hence, they were most numerous on the east and west,
especially the latter, in accordance with the greater extent of the
ancient mine holes on that side.
The annual charge levied by the Crown for each forge was usually at the
rate of 13s. 6d., or a mark. When otherwise--for in certain cases it
amounted to 20s.--it arose, probably, from some local circumstances
connected with the quantity or quality of the iron made at that
particular work.
Taken altogether, the forges in the Forest now yielded the king more than
30 pounds every twelve months.
They were leased for periods varying from three months to twenty years,
although the general length approached much nearer to the shorter limit
than to the longer one.