42 



After spending some little time in the beautiful walks on the Coldwell 

 rocks it was time to think of the descent. At the foot of the promontory of 

 ad's Yat is situated the New "Weir, the site of the once famous forge 

 and ironworks. These works were built in the year 1080 by Mr. George White 

 (an ancestor of one of the members of the Central Committee) and an extensive 

 trade was carried on there throughout the eighteenth century. A weir across 

 the river supplied the horse power, and the coppice wood of Herefordshire 

 famished the charcoal. It is on record that Mr. "White was an extensive 

 purchaser of wood from the Scudamores of Kentchurch. 



The weir was a somewhat formidable obstruction both to ascending fish 

 and navigation, until a lock was made for boats on the one side and an opening 

 in the centre for the passage of salmon. 



Mr. Partridge, of Bishopswood, succeeded Mr. White as lessee under 

 Admiral Griffin, who had purchased the property, as well as the manor and 

 castle of Gooderich, as has been mentioned to-day, from the Duke of Kent. 

 In his time and during Mr. White's occupation the salmon fishery below this 

 weir was very valuable, and formed no inconsiderable part of the profits of the 

 forge. With the general decay of forges alluded to in our Club's transactions, 

 which arose from theii being situated at a distance from the minerals, or from 

 being inconvenient of access, New Weir Forge similarly became of less value. In 

 17; '7 Ireland, in his book on the Wye, describes it as still in full work, and he 

 gives a picture of the lock, weir, and ironworks. He appears to have been much 

 impressed with the grandeur of the scene, in which the fall of the waters 

 over the weir, the awful sound of the iron hammers beating out the fiery mass, 

 the immense volumes of sparkling smoke issuing from the forges formed the 

 component parts. 



In 1814, on the breaking up of the ice, the weir was partially demolished, 

 and has never been rebuilt. All that now can be seen on the site of one of 

 the most famous of the Herefordshire Forges is a somewhat unusually rapid 

 stream, and an island on the right bank planted with larch trees. 



It was very warm going down the steep hill to the Washings Ferry, 

 and the way seemed long, though when the lane was left it was very pretty as 

 the path led down under some magnificent strata of the Old Red Sandstone 

 < longlomerate. The ferry boat is managed by rope as in the 14th century. It 

 was safely crossed, and a ride somewhat long and dusty brought all the visitors 

 to the Royal Hotel. 



The dinner took place at six o'clock. Immediately afterwards Dr. Bull, 

 who was in the chair, rose and said that the President of the Club for the year, 

 the Rev. Mr. Key, was very sorry to be prevented from attending that day to 

 welcome the ladies who had done the Club the honour to attend this meeting, 

 n ither had either of the Vice-Presidents been able to be present, and thus the 

 duty of taking the lead had fallen upon himself as the next officer of the Club. 

 ,'iiy there had not been any difficulty about it, for the arrangements had 

 boen so carefully made, the day had been so favourable, and the scenery they 



