At 11:00 26/12/2010, Ian Spensley wrote:
>Since Mike has been brave enough to raise an alternative view; maybe it is
>a good time to ask about 'balehouses' . I had asked a few before for their
>opinion on what they may be but in light of Mike's thinking; could they be
>some kind of transition between bales and smelt mills.
>
>The references is from 1538-1544 in Swaledale. TNA C1/965/53
>
>suche mynes lede lott [vj c] groofes balehouses & colys with thappertances
>
Ian,
The reference to 'colys' - coals (most probably charcoal) - does
suggest smelting in some form of furnace and that could be either the
smelting of finely crushed lead ores (see my earlier reference to
'lead sand') or the re-smelting of residues from the wind-blown
'bale' hearth. So it is probable that the 'balehouses' were those
furnaces - but does the 'house' element suggest more than just a
small outdoor furnace but something contained within a building?
Peter
Dr Peter Claughton,
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