306 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



export the charcoal. This adventure was most successful, and 

 at the time of the Commission for examining into the state of 

 the Timber in Ireland, he had amassed a sum of over one million 

 pounds. Having only one child, a daughter, the bait was too seduc- 

 tive to one of the Commissioners, a scion of the twice noble house 

 of Cholmondelay, who became Bacon's son-in-law and successor ; 

 relinquishing his heritage, and changing his name to Chamney. 1 



The Chamneys greatly increased the trade ; having works not 

 only at Shillelagh, where Bacon established the industry, but also 

 in the Yale of Clara ; at Bally na clash, or " Clash," in Glanma- 

 lure; at Garrynagowlaun (Woodenbridge) and Aughrim, in the 

 Yale of the Darragh Water; and elsewhere; besides innumerable 

 bloomeries; his works, popularly, being said to have "filled the 

 country." In an old document there are records of some fifty- 

 two or more distinct works in Wicklow, Wexford, and Carlow. 

 The " Clash " and Shillelagh iron was of a very superior quality, 

 and at the present day any old chains or other articles made of it 

 are highly prized by the smith. 2 



Bacon may have only manufactured imported pig-iron; but 

 the Chamneys also smelted the native ores of Ballycapple, north-east 

 of Eedcross; and Knock na mohill mines, westward of Ovoca. 

 Elsewhere in Ireland the Iron trade gradually ceased, as the 

 woods were exhausted; but here it seems to have come to a 

 sudden and untimely end prior to 1761, on account of a fracas 

 between Chamney and the English agent of the lord of the soil. 3 



i Although he changed his name during his life, and his descendants adopted the 

 change, yet on his tomb in Carnew Churchyard, his real name and lineage are given. 



2 A smith who had a forge near Castle M c Adam, is popularly reported to have gone 

 night after night to abstract the "Clash iron" staples and bolts out of the granyte 

 "•ate posts, so common in tbe county. Whether he did it or not, the staples now, as a 

 •general rule, have all disappeared. I have known a pound of "Clash iron" being 

 exchanged for three pounds of the ordinary iron at present in use. 



s "Written information about the old iron works is very hard to procure, as nearly 

 all the Chamney Papers appeared to have been destroyed when the family were dis- 

 persed. Old people will tell you that "the noise of the Chamney hammer" was a 

 weather guide, and show you bits of the Clash or Shillalagh iron ore pots ; but no one 

 seems capable of giving special information in respect to any of the old works ; all say, 

 " I supposed they belonged to Chamney, as they say he had works everywhere." Also 

 they know that the ore and his iron were carried in baskets on horseback from Wicklow 

 port and from the different mines ; and the old horse tracks from the mines and 

 "Wicklow to the furnace can still be shown. That the trail from Wicklow to Shillelagh 

 must have been a very ancient one, is suggested by its passing the sites of Sillerey's 

 and Eaymond's Castles. 



