4000^ll.”

A proviso was added that—“The workes already buylt, onlye grantted w^th no power to remove them, but bound to mayntayne and leave them in good case

and repayre, w^th all stock of hammers, anvils, and other necessarys received att the pattentees’ intyre,” as also that “libertye for myne and synders for supplying of the workes onlye, to be taken by delivery of the miners att the price agreed uppon.”

Great confidence was reposed in Sir Basil Brook, since he, with Robert Chaldecott, obtained a contemporary grant of the office of clerk or overseer of the iron works in the Forest for fifteen years. [31a]  But so much did they abuse it, that ere three years had elapsed, a commission was issued, 17 July, 1618, to Sir Thos. Brudnell, Sir John Tracy, Sir William Cooke, and others, [31b] “to survey and examine the wastes made in the Forest of Dean by Sir Basil Brooke and others, farmers of iron works there.”  In their report, one item states that “His Majestie, since the erecting the iron works, had received a greater revenue than formerly.”  They were to proceed on interrogatories prepared by Sir Wm. Throgmorton, Bart., who was himself engaged in the like manufacture, [31c] being associated therein with Sir Sackville Crowe, Bart., John Taylor, and John Guernsey, of Bristol, merchant farmers of his Majesty’s iron works.  Sir Edward and Sir John Winter, of Lydney, and Henry, Lord Herbert of Ragland, had iron works as well.

In April, 1621, [31d] Messrs. Richd. Challoner and Phil. Harris, tenants to Lord Robartes, appear to have succeeded to the works formerly held by Sir Basil Brook.  Within four years, however, one Christ. Bainbridge obtained judgment against them

for cutting down 1200 trees for their own purposes, but they were ultimately pardoned, as likewise their predecessors, who had become liable for £33,675 16s. 8d.

The name of Sir Edwd. Villiers now appears [32] as renting iron works in the Forest; then that of Sir Richd. Catchmay, having Wm. Rowles and Robt. Treswell for his overseers.

Amidst these successive changes, the only person who seems to have continued in uninterrupted possession of his works for making iron, was William Earl of Pembroke, Lord Steward.  In 1627 he had the lease of them renewed to him for twenty-one years.  By him, probably, the 610 guns were cast, as ordered by the Crown for the States General of Holland, A.D. 1629.  The spot where they were made was, it would seem, ever after called “Guns Mills,” and by which name it is still known.  Guns Pill, on the Severn, was the place, doubtless, where they were afterwards shipped.

An inventory, unique, probably, in its singularly explicit description of the buildings and machinery used by the above-named manufacturers, and bearing the date of 1635, happily came under Mr. Wyrrall’s observation, and was by him carefully transcribed.  We learn from it that the stone body of the furnace now used in the neighbourhood was usually about 22 feet square, the blast being kept up by a water-wheel not less than 22 feet in diameter, acting upon two pairs of bellows, measuring 18 feet by 4, and kept in blast for several months together.  Such structures existed at Cannop, Park End, Sowdley, and

Lydbrook.  Besides which, there were forges, comprising chafferies and fineries, at Park End, Whitecroft, Sowdley, and Lydbrook.

A SURVEY OF THE FOREST OF DEAN IRON WORKS
IN 1635.

“Canop Furnace.—Most p^t new built, the rest repaired by the Farmers, 22^ft square, wheel 22^ft diam^r.  Furnace box built years since by the Farmers.  Bridge-house 48^ft by 21, 9 high, built 4 years.  Bellows boards 18^ft by 4.  Clerk’s house and stable built by the Farmers.  A cottage built by the Workmen belonging to the Works, now occupied by the Filler.  Built before the Farmers hired.  Founder’s house, Minecracker’s cabin, a Mine Kiln.

“Park Furnace.—Same dimensions, repaired 4 years since by the Farmers, Wheel and almost all the houses built by the Farmers.

“Park End Forge.—2 Ham^rs, 3 Fineries, 1 Chaffery, rep^d 2 years since, one of the Fineries new.

“Whitecroft Forge,—built ab^t 6 y^rs since by the Farmers, do do

“Bradley Forge.—do do do

“Sowdley Furnace, built 3 years—Qu. if rebuilt?  Bridge house, p^t built by the Farmers, p^t old and decay^d, Trow leading to the wheel, ½ made new 5 years since, decay^d, 5 Cottages, 1 built by the Farmers.  A dam a mile above Sowdley built by the Farmers.  A dam half a mile still higher, built long since.

“Sowdley Forge, 2 Fineries, 1 Chaffery built 2 years, in the place of the old Forge.  Trows and Penstocks made new by the Farmers, decayed.

“Lydbrook Furnace, 23^ft long, 9 bottom, 23^ft deep, new built 3 y^rs since from the ground, 3^ft higher than before, much cracked.  A great Buttress behind the Furnace to strengthen it.

“Lydbrook Forge.—1 Chaffery, 2 Fineries, House built 4 years, being burnt by accident.”

Besides the above, Mr. Wyrrall transcribed the following additional particulars from a MS. dated 23 September, 1635, and endorsed,—“The booke of

Survey for the Forest of Deane Iron work, and the Warrant annexed unto y^t.”

“Cannope Furnace.—Now blowinge, and likely to contynue aboute 3 weeks.  The most part new built, and the rest repaired by the Farmers about 4 years since.  Stone walls, about 60^lb, consistinge of the stone body thereof 22 foote square, wherein are:—

    “In the fore front 4 Sowes of Iron )

                                        )  7 Sowes.

      and the Tempiron Wall 3 Sowes    )

“A Wheele, 22 Foote diam^r, 7 Iron Whops, one the Waste, made about three years since.  With shafte and all things belonging about 20^lb, in good repaire.

“The Furnace Howse half tiled, built with timber 4 years since by the Farmers, cost about 80^lb, in repaire.

“The Bridge House, 21 foot broad, 48 foot longe, and 9 foote heigh, built about 2 years since, the bridge about 4 years, covered with bords bottomed with Planks.

“5 bellow bords ready sawed, 18^ft longe, 4^ft broad.  A Watter Trowe l^ft at bottome and 15 ynches high, 75 yards long, leadinge the water to the Wheele, cut out of the whole tymber, and ledged at the top, newe made within 4 years, and now in repaire, cost about