1866. | The New Iron-fields of England. 331 
specular pig-iron have been produced at the Frodingham furnaces. 
The district is also favourably placed with reference to its geogra- 
phical position: its distance trom the Yorkshire coal-field is small, 
so that while it is within easy reach of fuel, it can send large 
- quantities of the ore into the Yorkshire coal-field for mixing with 
the argillaceous iron-stone, and this is now practised to a large 
extent. For shipment it is being placed, by the construction of 
new lines, in communication with the ports of Goole and Grimsby, 
while it is also favourably situated for sending supplies into Stafford- 
shire and other inland markets. The metal possesses the qualities 
of extreme fluidity when melted, and is tenacious in a manufactured 
state; so that it answers well for hoops and boiler-plates. For 
general purposes, however, it is improved by the mixture of either 
Cleveland or hzematite pig-iron. 
The Middle Lias of Northamptonshire has not as yet (as far, 
at least, as I am aware) yielded iron-stone. ‘The formation is 
doubtless there, lying about 120 feet under the Northamptonshire 
iron-stone, which, as already stated, occurs at the base of the Great 
Oolite. The richness and abundance of this latter ore have probably 
diverted attention from the former, for it ought not to be forgotten 
that these Jurassic ores do not force themselves on men’s attention, 
but have rather to be sought for. As I have already described the 
oolitic iron-stone of this county, I shall therefore pass on to the 
consideration of the Oxfordshire iron-stone, at the southern extremity 
of our district. 
The iron-field extends over a hilly tract of ground, extending 
from Edge Hill, near Banbury, on the north, to the valley of the 
Evenlode, near Charlbury, on the south, near which place it has 
as yet alone been worked.* The ore belongs to the Middle Lias, 
and is similar im appearance to the Lincolnshire, and sometimes to 
the Cleveland stone. It consists of olive-green oolitic rock, more 
or less calcareous, and weathering rusty-brown. At Fawler the 
thickness is twelve or fifteen feet, and this may be taken as the 
average over that part of the field where the iron-stone is richest. 
Towards the western escarpment of the hills, overlooking the vale 
of Moreton, the rock decreases both in thickness and quality as an 
iron-stone ; as it does also to the eastward, along the valley of the 
Cherwell, as far south at least as Aynho. Around Bloxham, 
Deddington, Great Tew, Hook Norton, and Swalcliffe, it appears to 
be of good quality, and generally forms nearly level terraces, 
intersected by narrow valleys—a position peculiarly adapted for 
economical working and drainage. New lines of railway are now 
being constructed across the richest portion of the district, placing 
it within reach of South Wales and South Staffordshire; and, 
* At Fawler quarries, the yield of which, in 1864, was 6,666 tons, The iron- 
stone has also been worked at Steeple Aston. 
