A PICTURE OF THE IRON TRADE. 33 



Furnace, near Renishaw, was built in 1652. Tue ironstone for 

 its use was fetched from Staveley, and large quantities of saw iron 

 were sold from it to Lionel Copley, Esquire, and pots, mortars, 

 and pans cast there. Staveley Furnace and Forge were hired from 

 John Freshville, but the lessee was much troubled by want of 

 wood for fuel. North Winfield Furnace was supplied with char- 

 coal from Bushy Park, and I find 409 tons of saw iron turned out 

 there in May, 1662, and in May, 1666, 120 tons sold at ^5 3s. 4d. 

 per ton. The Upper and the Nether Forges at Pleasley were 

 being worked before 1655. In 1662 they were presented as a 

 nuisance at Nottingham Assizes, by reason of the stopping of the 

 river. Saws and brewers' squares were made here ; and at one 

 time our writer was sub-letting these forges to another ironmaster, 

 Mr. Clayton. Lionel Copley, Esq., was renting Wadsley Forge 

 from George Sitwell, in May, 1660, at _^8 6s. 8d per month. 

 Carberton Forge was hired by our writer from John Moseley. In 

 May, 1662, there were 193 tons of sow iron here, and this and 

 the tools were divided between the lessee and Mr. Clayton, they 

 having been partners in some bargain for wood and iron. In 

 April, 1663, the former was threatened with a fine by the Court 

 of Justice in Eyre for the forest ; but feared nothing, as no work 

 had been done at the forge since the Act of Oblivion. Cuckney 

 Forge was built by him in 1662, and on the abandonment of 

 the Carberton Forge, the sow iron there was conveyed to it. The 

 ground landlord was the Marquess of Dorchester, and it was 

 taken for four years at a rent of ^72 10s. od. per annum, and 

 compensation at the end of the term for building and repairs. 



Clipston Forges, Stanley Forge, and the Stone Forge are also 

 mentioned, but I do not know by whom they were held. The 

 slitting mill at Renishaw was sub-let to Isaac Fentham, a servant 

 or clerk. 



At the furnaces the iron ore was reduced, and cast-iron goods, 

 such as chimney plates, mortars, and sugar rollers were made. I 

 find a payment of ^127 10s. od. to the ironstone getters at 

 Staveley, for 300 tons of sow iron, at 8s. 6d. per ton, and another 

 for 36 dozen of ironstone brought to Foxbrooke Furnace at 

 3 



