Iron

Almost no handiwork is wrought without iron; no field
is eared, no tilling craft used, nor is any building constructed
without iron. (10)
[Bartholomew of England, Franciscan, writing c. 1250]

Iron Candlestick, from Fountains Abbey
© Cisterciand in Yorkshire
<click to enlarge>

Iron was an important resource and was required to make tools, fittings and horseshoes, clippers to shear sheep and everyday objects such as buckles, keys, pots and pans. It was even used for construction work. Fountains therefore required a considerable amount of iron to provide for its needs. The community had several forges, for example, at Dacre, Aldborough and Bradley (Kirkheaton), as well as Allerdale, in Cumberland.(11) The site of the forge at Bradley is today marked by earthworks and slag, and may, in fact, be the earliest known medieval water-driven industrial complex in the country.(12) Fountains acquired its lands in Bradley in the late twelfth century, and probably sought these out specifically for the high quality iron ore here. By 1194, the community was working an iron forge here in 'Smythclough' - 'valley of the iron smelters.' (13)

Feeding the flames

The production of iron required high temperatures and a reducing environment. The high calorific value and low ash content of charcoal made it ideal for burning, but considerable quantities were required to fuel the iron forges. The vast amount of charcoal needed by Fountains concerned the magnate, John de Mowbray, who feared that by stripping the woodland of shelter for the wild animals, the monks would compromise his hunting.

Water v foot power
Fixed mills could be powered by a water wheel, but portable forges were powered by a foot-blast.

[Jennings, Yorkshire Monasteries, p. 99]

John's concerns gave rise to an agreement in 1309. This stated that the community might have only one forge in Nidderdale, in addition to the forge at Dacre, it stipulated that the monks might make as much charcoal as they wished between 29th September and Easter, but at no other time, and that they might only do so in the woodlands on their Nidderdale estates. Other terms of the agreement shed light on the nature of iron smelting, and reveal that this additional forge might have two furnaces and be moved around, so that the monks could make iron in the most convenient spots.(14)

Current research conducted by the Department of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bradford, is investigating and evaluating the importance of iron to the Rievaulx community and the effect of the monks' industry on the landscape.