1892-93-] 5^7 



The scraper-like, or ancient form was called an " Englishman," 

 because that form was retained in England as in ancient times, 

 whereas another form more like a square gun-flint was called a 

 " Frenchman " because it was introduced from France.* 



After the discovery of gunpowder, pyrites and matches were 

 used to "fire " the powder in the pan of the lock, and an im- 

 provement was subsequently made by the introduction of the 

 flint-lock, which had the effect of considerably extending the 

 trade in worked flints, chiefly for the supply of the army — for 

 pistols, muskets, and cannon were now fitted with a flint-lock. 

 In England, the trade was carried on at Brandon, in Suffolk, 

 where it still survives, the methods of procuring and working 

 the flints being extremely primitive. From Brandon, worked 

 flints as strike-a-lights are sent to Spain, Italy, and many other 

 places ; even gun-flints are still produced and exported in 

 quantities. 



In ancient times there were numerous factories for worked 

 flints in the north of Ireland, and, no doubt, an extensive trade 

 was carried on with other parts of the kingdom. Although the 

 trade was pre-historic, we have positive evidence of the existence 

 of former flint factories on the sites of many ancient settlements 

 in Antrim and Down, where we find, in large quantities, the 

 remains of worked flints, the cores from which the flakes were 

 struck, the hammers of various forms and sizes, by which the 

 flakes were dislodged, the refuse splinters, or spoilbank, of the 

 manufactory, as well as many of the more highly-finished forms 

 of flint, and the perfected arrow-head, scraper, and celt, which 

 it was the aim of the manipulator to produce. 



No better, and scarcely a more prolific factory, could be 

 mentioned than the one which existed near Ormeau Bridge, 

 Belfast, on the site lately allotted to the workshops of some of 

 our chief contracting builders, who had to clear away the debris 

 of the ancient factory to make way for the modern innovation. 

 Similar ancient factories have been discovered in Antrim, and 

 have yielded a vast quantity of worked flints of various kinds. 



* See Stevens' " Flint Chips," p. 578. 



