Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Possible site of iron furnace and forge first mentioned in 1574 and 1588 at Ashehurst, a little below a cornmill, and quarter of a mile north west of the church. The corn-mill was burnt down in the 1930's. Ashurst Furnace was water powered but there are not thought to be any remains of the bay or any identifiable remains of the water system and working areas. Glassy slag and black soil have been found in the gardens of Mill Place, the site of the cornmill. Downstream is a small dry embanked pond with scatter of forge bottoms and cinder.

Monument Types

• FORGE (Post Medieval - 1574 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• IRON FURNACE (Post Medieval - 1574 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• CORN MILL (Burnt down, Modern - 1901 AD? to 1934 AD)
• WATERMILL (Modern - 1901 AD? to 1934 AD?)

Full description

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[TQ 50993939] An iron furnace and forge were mentioned in 1574 and 1588 at Ashehurst, it was situated at Lat 57 deg 8' 0" N., Long 0 deg 9' 30" E. on the Medway, a little below a cornmill, and quarter of a mile NW of the church. (1) The "bay has entirely disappeared, and the pond silted up to the general level of the flat water meadows, but no doubt the furnace was somewhere near the present mill-race. There is a little slag in the banks and gateways and larger pieces have been dug. The bay at the forge, although much reduced in height, is still visible. Forge fieldapplies to two fields, one in Ashhurst and one in Chiddingstone. Another is Hammerfield. Power forge cinder collected. Blast furnace slag collected. The Name "Pondfield" aplies. (2) [The above Lat. and Long. do not agree accurately with the siting description.] (3) The corn-mill which formerly stood at TQ 50693900 was burnt down in the 1930's but the gardens of the houses which now occupy the site contain much black earth and forge cinder. The discrepancy between this and Straker's evidence could not be resolved during field work but note confirmatory field name 'Forge Field' at TQ 508388. (4) TQ 507390 Ashurst Furnace, water powered. No remains of bay; no identifiable remains of water system. No remains of working area. Glassy slag and black soil in garden of Mill Place the site of the cornmill burnt down in 1934. Downstream atTQ 507391 is a small dry embanked pond with scatter of forge bottoms and cinder; Ashurst Forge 2, not mentioned by Straker. The furnace and a forge mentioned since 1574. (See also TQ 54 SW 2) (5)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Wealden Iron 1931 231-2 (E Straker) (OS Card Reference). SKE51291.

<3> RCHME Recorder WSG 22-FEB-1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE49012.

<4> F1 AC 04-MAR-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE41759.

<5> Iron Ind of the Weald 1985 171 172 222 311 (H Cleere & D Crossley) (OS Card Reference). SKE44511.

Sources and further reading