2,20 REPOUT — 1873. 



At or abaut 17.Si Jam ^3 Watt was completing lii3 inveutioii of a rotary motion 

 steam-engine, the introduction of which was oulj' required to inaugurate a new era 

 in the history of the iron trade. It was about this time that the Bowling Iron- 

 works were commenced, the first furnace being blown in in the year 1788. Even 

 before that date, however, we have records of some part of the works being in 

 existence, and doing a limited trade in foundry and smith work. But as works 

 for the smelting of ores, they date from the year 1788, three years in advance of 

 the sister works at Low Moor. This was the beginning of the trade of the best 

 Yorkshire irons, now so famous for their qualities through the entire civilized 

 world. The Bowling Ironworks may properly be considered, therefore, the pioneer 

 of that great prosperity which has rendered Bradford famous amongst the commer- 

 cial marts of the world. 



The population of the borough when the Bowling works were started could only 

 have been about 10,000, as thirteen years later (in 1801) it was not more than 13,264, 

 whereas the present population is over 150,000. The establishing of works of this 

 kind, at which employment for a considerable number of men would be ensured, 

 must at that period have been regarded as an event of much importance. John 

 Sturges, of Sandal, Wakefield, an ironmaster of repute, was the first to broach the 

 idea of establishing ironworks on the ground they now stand, and to his know- 

 ledge of the necessary minerals to produce a superior iron is to be attributed the 

 choice of the situation. 



The engine originally erected for blowing purposes was burnt down a few years 

 after it had been at work, and was replaced by the one called the " Old Blast 

 Engine " now existing. This was considered to be a great improvement upon the 

 first one, as the valve-gear was made self-acting. Below the engine, and con- 

 structed in massive masonry work, was made the air-chamber for equalizing the 

 pressure of the blast. A bar-mill and a plate-mill were started soon afterwards, 

 and were also driven by a steam-engine, a considerable portion of which was con- 

 structed on the spot. We find it stated in Smiles's ' Lives of Boulton and Watt ' 

 that notice was given to the Bowling Ironworks, near Bradford, of proceedings 

 against the company for the recovery of dues. On this the Bowling Company 

 offered to treat, and young Watt went down to Leeds for the purpose of meeting 

 the representatives of the Bowling Company on the subject. On the 24th February, 

 1796, he wrote his friend JMatthew Robinson Boulton as follows : — " Enclosed you 

 have a copy of the treaty of peace, not amity, concluded at Leeds on Saturday last 

 between me, Minister Plenipotentiary to your Highness on the one part, and the 

 Bowling Pirates in person on the otlier part. I hope you will ratify the terms, as 

 you will see they are founded entirely upon the principle of indemnity for the past 

 and security for the future." On referring to the private ledger of these works of 

 that date, we find that the treaty of peace referred to was purchased at the price 

 of £1640. _ • ' 



The substratum around Bowling is part of the most extensive and valuable coal- 

 field in England, stretching from Derby or Nottingham to this district, a distance 

 of sixty miles, and ranging about eight miles broad. The seam of coal called the 

 "better bed," which is one of the valuable elements necessary for the production 

 of the best quality of iron, is seated upon a peculiar hard siliceous sandstone termed 

 " galliard," immediately above the black-bed coal, and resting upon it is an argil- 

 laceous stratum of the mean thickness of two yards, in which lies imbedded, in 

 irregular layers, the valualjle ironstone of this district. The stone wears a dark 

 brown appearance, and yields about 32 per cent, of iron. Both coals are cakino- 

 coals, and moderately hard. The ash of the black-bed coal is of a dark purple gold 

 colour, similar to rna«ted pyrites. This coal contains a very large percentage of 

 pyrites in a state of intimate mixture in the coal, so that it cannot be seen ; the 

 ash fuses readily, is slightly alkaline (due to lime), and contains sulphide of iron 

 and a very large quantity of oxide. The works comprise six cold-blast furnaces, 

 from which about 3(30 tons of pig-iron are run per week, five refineries, twenty-one 

 puddliug-furnaces, forty heating-furnaces, an extensive forge, a tyre-mill for rolling 

 steel and iro.i wekUess tyres, one guide-mill, one bar-mill, with lo-in. rolls, and 

 two plate-mills. A third new plate-mill is nearly completed. The poweiful 

 to giv'j motion to this mill are oil the principle introduced by 



I 

 1 



