In looking through a number of Devon lead smelting accounts I have a number of questions, not having any detailed knowledge of lead smelting.
Firstly, at Wheal Betsy there are various references to straw ropes e.g. "spinning straw ropes for smelters for smelting". What could these have been used for?
In addition to the use of bone ash for silver recovery, there are references to "fern ashes". Would these have been used as a substitute for bone ash, & is there any record of these being used elsewhere.
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