192 The Metallurgical Industry of Cleveland. [April, 



ironmasters have, in a comparatively short term of years, acquired 

 for their district the proud distinction of being the greatest seat of 

 the iron manufacture in the whole world. 



It was in the month of September, 1850, that the first sample of 

 Cleveland ironstone from the Eston Hill was smelted at the Witton 

 Park Iron Works ; but it was only a few months afterwards that 

 active measures were taken for the practical treatment of the mineral 

 at Middlesbrough, within easy reach of the ironstone deposit. 

 Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan were the first firm of ironmasters 

 to enter upon the Cleveland industry. They were the first to 

 erect blast furnaces on Tees-side, and were really the original 

 pioneers of the present gigantic trade of the district. But there 

 were other firms who soon cast in their lot with Messrs. Bolckow 

 and Yaughan by erecting blast furnaces in the district. Chief among 

 these, it is but proper that mention should be made of Messrs. 

 Bell Brothers, of Clarence Iron Works, Messrs. Gilkes and Wilson, 

 Messrs. Cochrane, and Mr. B. Samuelson, M.P. They were keenly 

 alive to the great resources of the district, and they brought great 

 practical and scientific abilities and commercial energy to bear upon 

 those resources. Their example has since been followed in a most 

 remarkable manner, and the energy which has since been displayed 

 has been most wonderful, if not even unique, if one may judge by 

 comparing the state of things now prevailing with that which 

 existed twenty, fifteen, or even ten years ago — lor even within the 

 last five years or so, the ironworks of Middlesbrough and its imme- 

 diate vicinity have been nearly doubled in number. 



As already indicated, the chief or primary circumstance to which 

 this extraordinary scientifico-industrial development is traceable is 

 the almost inexhaustible store of comparatively rich ironstone lying 

 quite at hand in the Cleveland Hills ; but there are other circum- 

 stances which must also be taken into consideration. A sojourner 

 in the district can scarcely fail to be struck with the wonders that 

 surround him on all hands. To a few of the circumstances which 

 strike a stranger to Cleveland — but who is not a stranger to the 

 iron trade — reference may now be made. 



I. Calcining Kilns. — In the Cleveland district the ironstone is 

 in some instances calcined before leaving the mines, but in most 

 cases it is calcined in very close proximity to the blast furnaces 

 where it is to be smelted. The operation is effected in calcining 

 kilns, never in open heaps or "bings," such as may be seen in 

 various iron districts. These kilns have no very distant resem- 

 blance to lime-kilns. They are generally of very considerable size, 

 sometimes fifty feet in height, and upwards of twenty in width ; in- 

 deed, they are frequently a good deal larger than many of the blast 

 furnaces of South Staffordshire, South Wales, and Lanarkshire. 

 The raw ironstone is raised to the top of the stacks of calcining 



