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ensuing。〃
Darby proceeded to make arrangements for carrying on the manufacture
upon a large scale at the Baptist Mills； but the other partners
hesitated to embark more capital in the concern； and at length
refused their concurrence。 Determined not to be baulked in his
enterprise； Darby abandoned the Bristol firm； and in the year 1709 he
removed to Coalbrookdale in Shropshire； with the intention of
prosecuting the enterprise on his own account。 He took the lease of a
little furnace which had existed at the place for more than a
century； as the records exist of a 〃smethe〃 or 〃smeth…house〃 at
Coalbrookdale in the time of the Tudors。 The woods of oak and hazel
which at that time filled the beautiful dingles of the dale； and
spread in almost a continuous forest to the base of the Wrekin；
furnished abundant fuel for the smithery。 As the trade of the
Coalbrookdale firm extended； these woods became cleared； until the
same scarcity of fuel began to be experienced that had already
desolated the forests of Sussex； and brought the manufacture of iron
in that quarter to a stand…still。
It appears from the 'Blast Furnace Memorandum Book' of Abraham Darby；
which we have examined； that the make of iron at the Coalbrookdale
foundry； in 1713； varied from five to ten tons a week。 The principal
articles cast were pots； kettles； and other 〃hollow ware；〃 direct
from the smelting…furnace； the rest of the metal was run into pigs。
In course of time we find that other castings were turned out： a few
grates； smoothing…irons； door…frames； weights； baking…plates；
cart…bushes； iron pestles and mortars； and occasionally a tailor's
goose。 The trade gradually increased； until we find as many as 150
pots and kettles cast in a week。
The fuel used in the furnaces appears； from the Darby
Memorandum…Book； to have been at first entirely charcoal； but the
growing scarcity of wood seems to have gradually led to the use of
coke； brays or small coke； and peat。 An abundance of coals existed in
the neighbourhood： by rejecting those of inferior quality； and coking
the others with great care； a combustible was obtained better fitted
even than charcoal itself for the fusion of that particular kind of
ore which is found in the coal…measures。 Thus we find Darby's most
favourite charge for his furnaces to have been five baskets of coke；
two of brays； and one of peat； next followed the ore； and then the
limestone。 The use of charcoal was gradually given up as the art of
smelting with coke and brays improved； most probably aided by the
increased power of the furnace…blast； until at length we find it
entirely discontinued。
The castings of Coalbrookdale gradually acquired a reputation； and
the trade of Abraham Darby continued to increase until the date of
his death； which occurred at Madeley Court in 1717。 His sons were too
young at the time to carry on the business which he had so
successfully started； and several portions of the works were sold at
a serious sacrifice。 But when the sons had grown up to manhood； they
too entered upon the business of iron…founding； and Abraham Darby's
son and grandson； both of the same name； largely extended the
operations of the firm； until Coalbrookdale； or； as it was popularly
called； 〃Bedlam；〃 became the principal seat of one of the most
important branches of the iron trade。
There seems to be some doubt as to the precise time when pit…coal was
first regularly employed at Coalbrookdale in smelting the ore。 Mr。
Scrivenor says； 〃pit…coal was first used by Mr。 Abraham Darby； in his
furnace at Coalbrookdale； in 1713；〃*
＇footnote。。。
History of the Iron Trade； p。 56。
。。。＇
but we can find no confirmation of this statement in the records of
the Company。 It is probable that Mr。 Darby used raw coal； as was done
in the Forest of Dean at the same time；*
＇footnote。。。
See Mr。 Powle's account of the Iron Works in the Forest of Dean
（1677…8）； in the Philosophical Transactions； vol。 ii。 p。 418； where
he says； 〃After they have pounded their ore； their first work is to
calcine it； which is done in kilns； much after the fashion of
ordinary lime…kilns； These they fill up to the top with coal and ore；
stratum super stratum； until it be full； and so setting fire to the
bottom； they let it burn till the coal be wasted； and then renew the
kilns with fresh ore and coal； in the same manner as before。 This is
done without fusion of the metal； and serves to consume the more
drossy parts of the ore and to make it friable。〃 The writer then
describes the process of smelting the ore mixed with cinder in the
furnaces； where； he says； the fuel is 〃always of charcoal。〃 〃Several
attempts；〃 he adds； 〃have been made to introduce the use of sea…coal
in these works instead of charcoal； the former being to be had at an
easier rate than the latter； but hitherto they have proved
ineffectual； the workmen finding by experience that a sea…coal fire；
how vehement soever； will not penetrate the most fixed parts of the
ore； and so leaves much of the metal unmelted〃
。。。＇
in the process of calcining the ore； but it would appear from his own
Memoranda that coke only was used in the process of smelting。 We
infer from other circumstances that pit…coal was not employed for the
latter purpose until a considerably later period。 The merit of its
introduction； and its successful use in iron…smelting； is due to Mr。
Richard Ford； who had married a daughter of Abraham Darby； and
managed the Coalbrookdale works in 1747。 In a paper by the Rev。 Mr。
Mason； Woodwardian Professor at Cambridge； given in the
'Philosophical Transactions' for that year；*
＇footnote。。。
Phil。 Trans。 vol。 xliv。 305。
。。。＇
the first account of its successful
employment is stated as follows： 〃Several attempts have been made
to run iron…ore with pit…coal： he （Mr。Mason） thinks it has not
succeeded anywhere； as we have had no account of its being practised；
but Mr。 Ford； of Coalbrookdale in Shropshire； from iron…ore and coal；
both got in the same dale； makes iron brittle or tough as he pleases；
there being cannon thus cast so soft as to bear turning like
wrought…iron。〃 Most probably； however； it was not until the time of
Richard Reynolds； who succeeded Abraham Darby the second in the
management of the works in 1757； that pit…coal came into large and
regular use in the blasting…furnaces as well as the fineries of
Coalbrookdale。
Richard Reynolds was born at Bristol in 1735。 His parents； like the
Darbys； belonged to the Society of Friends； and he was educated in
that persuasion。 Being a spirited； lively youth； the 〃old Adam〃
occasionally cropped out in him； and he is even said； when a young
man； to have been so much fired by the heroism of the soldier's
character that he felt a strong desire to embrace a military career；
but this feeling soon died out； and he dropped into the sober and
steady rut of the Society。 After serving an apprenticeship in his
n