R.A. Mott showed that Kirkstall Forge did not go back to the 13th century as
an ironworks. The supposed medieval reference related to another (probably
unpowered) ironworks in the area. The reference to water-power at
Kirkstall did relate to the forge site but not to an ironworks. Kirkstall
Abbey only had two corn mills, not a smithy (the vernacular name for a
bloomery forge) in 1538. The first certain reference to ironmaking at
Kirkstall is in 1618: R.A. Mott, 'Kirkstall Forge and monkish ironmaking'
publn Thoresby Soc. 15(2) (1972), 154-66.
Peter King
----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Hutchison <[log in to unmask]>
To: Arch-metals <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 05 October 2000 17:37
Subject: Re: Experimental bloomery
> In Schubert there is a table (which I missed until now) of waterpower in
> British ironworks which gives a possible site of a second century water
> powered Roman ironworks and another from the Domesday Book. Kirkstall
Forge
> had a "fosse or goit" before 1220. He thinks the water power is more
likely
> to be for the bellows than a hammer. There are references to the source of
> the information.
>
> Peter
>
> Peter Hutchison
> [log in to unmask]
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