Further to Dave Linton’s kind help with my enquiries I have found a
reference to manganese in Warwickshire in Tomlinson’s “Cyclopaedia of
Useful Arts", (n.d. but probably 1850s):
“A peculiar oxide of manganese has been found at Hartshill in Warwickshire,
to which the term Varvicite has been given from its locality.”
From Google I found varvicite mentioned in Scientific American Supplement,
No. 401, September 8, 1883: “The binoxide, or peroxide, is the black
manganese of commerce, and the pyrolusite of mineralogists, and is by far
the most abundant of the manganese ores. It occurs in a hydrated form in
varvicite and wad.”
This doesn’t help me to identify Blinkhorn – I’m beginning to think it may
be a personal name associated with whoever ground the manganese ore for
Sykes’ bleachworks.
Other suggestions would be much appreciated.
Fred.
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