] 54 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



to the family of Hopkins, but was purchased by Mr. John Howe, 

 and is now inhabited by some of the family, who are Quakers. 



The parish of Wednesbury has long been celebrated for its 

 valuable mines of coal and iron-stone of excellent quality ; and 

 the inhabitants have the advantage of a general inland naviga- 

 tion, which has contributed to the prosperity of Wednesbury and 

 its vicinity. 



In 1811, the population of Wednesbury was 2806 males, 2566 

 females ; total 5372 : and since that period many new houses have 

 been erected. 



Wednesbury is distinguished for its numerous and valuable manu- 

 factures, the principal of which are, coach-harness, saws, trowels, 

 edge-tools, bridle-bits, stirrups, hinges, nails, iron axletrees, wood 

 screws, a variety of cast-iron work, and though last not least, gun- 

 barrels, and locks. The finest enamel paintings are likewise 

 among the productions of its artists. The coal in the neighbour- 

 hood, which is considered the best in the kingdom for the smith's 

 forge, on account of its peculiar intensity of heat, is found in sepa- 

 rate veins from three to fourteen feet in thickness, and is productive 

 of an ample revenue to its proprietors. A peculiar species of iron 

 ore is found here called Blond metal, which is chiefly used in the 

 manufacture of nails, horse-shoes, hammers, axes, and other heavy 

 tools. Reddish earth, called kip, is also found in the neighbourhood 

 of Wednesbury, which is used in glazing vessels of different kinds. 



Dr. Wilkes speaks of the wildfire which is discoverable in 

 some of the old coal-pits near this town. " We have," says he, 

 " long had a wildfire in the old coal-pits in Wednesbury Field. It 

 breaks out spontaneously among the vast heaps of slack left in the 

 coal-works, and which contains a great quantity of sulphur, and 

 frequently smokes out through the surface, and acts upon the seve- 

 ral strata, some of which are reduced to cinders. It hardens clay 

 into what is called pock-stone, which is good for repairing the roads, 

 or laying the foundation of buildings. Another kind of fire in these 

 mines goes off with a tremendous explosion, driving every thing 

 before it ; but when the proper means are used, this is prevented. 



" Mr. Savary, the original inventor of the steam-engine, set one 

 of these engines down in Wednesbury, near a place called the 

 Broad-waters, but the water was too powerful for his machinery, 

 and he was forced to give up the undertaking : thus he had dis- 

 covered a power sufficient to produce any effect, but was un- 

 able to form machinery for using it. This was reserved for after- 



