Bole lead smelting technology and the Linch Clough (Derbyshire) bole
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Published
Nov 11, 2021
Abstract
A technical model is presented of lead bole smelting as it is known to have been practised in late medieval and early post-medieval Derbyshire and elsewhere. It uses known parameters of fuel characteristics and reaction temperatures, together with contemporary
descriptions of the technology. These are applied to the Linch Clough bole (SK165943) excavated in 1997. A hypothesis is offered for its operation, differing from the interpretation presented by its excavators.
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Keywords
References
Bevan B, Doonan R and Gale R 2004, ‘Medieval rural lead working: excavations at Linch Clough, Upper Derwent Valley, 2000–2001’, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 124, 113–140.
Blanchard I S 1992, ‘Technical implications of the transition from silver to lead smelting in twelfth century England’, in Willies L and Cranstone D (eds), Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London), 9–11.
Claughton P 1992, ‘Medieval silver-lead smelting in Devon’, in Willies L and Cranstone D (eds) Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London), 12–15.
Collins H F 1910, The metallurgy of lead (London).
Fairbairn R A 2007, ‘A tenth-century lead-smelting site in West Allendale’, British Mining 83, 47–51.
Farey J 1811, Agriculture and minerals of Derbyshire, Vol 1 (Reprinted by Peak District Mines Historical Society, Matlock Bath, 1989).
Hoover H C and L H (trans) 1950, Agricola G: De Re Metallica, 1556 (New York).
Kiernan D 1989, The Derbyshire lead industry in the sixteenth century (Derbyshire Record Society, Chesterfield).
Kiernan D and van de Noort R 1992 ‘Bole Smelting in Derbyshire’, in Willies L and Cranstone D (eds) Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London), 19–21.
Megaw B 1960-1, ‘Bakenwaldwath and the medieval lead mines’, Journal of the Manx Museum 6, 105–7.
Percy J 1861, Metallurgy: Vol 1. Fuel, fireclays, copper, zinc and brass (Reprint, Eindhoven, 1986).
Philips J A and Bauerman H 1891, Elements of metallurgy (London).
Radley J 1969, ‘A triple cairn and a rectangular cairn of the Bronze Age on Beeley Moor’, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 89, 1–17.
Raistrick A and Jennings B 1965, A history of lead mining in the Pennines (London).
Scott W W 1927, Chemical methods for the analysis of metallurgical products, 2nd edition (Norwood, Mass).
Smith R 2006, ‘Radiocarbon dating of early lead smelting sites’, British Mining Memoirs 80, 74–110.
Smith R and Murphy S 2003, ‘Bale smelting sites at Calver Hill, Swaledale, Yorkshire’, British Mining Memoirs 73, 46–71.
Timberlake S 2002, ‘Medieval lead smelting boles near Penguelan, Cwmystwyth’, Archaeology in Wales 42, 45–59.
Todd M 1996, ‘Ancient mining on Mendip, Somerset’, in Newman P (ed), Mining and metallurgy in South West Britain (Peak District Mines Historical Society and Historical Metallurgy Society, Matlock Bath).
Tylecote R F 1986, The prehistory of metallurgy in the British Isles (London).
Willies L and Cranstone D (eds) 1992, Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London).
Willies L 1990, ‘Derbyshire lead smelting in the 18th and 19th centuries’. Bulletin Peak District Mines Historical Society 11(1), 1–19.
Willies L 1994, ‘Firesetting technology’, in Ford T D and Willies L (eds) Mining before powder (Peak District Mines Historical Society and Historical Metallurgy Society. Matlock Bath) 1–9.
Willies L 2002, ‘The wedge effect in firesetting of a Sarsen at Overton, Wiltshire’, Mining History 15.1, 9–51.
Blanchard I S 1992, ‘Technical implications of the transition from silver to lead smelting in twelfth century England’, in Willies L and Cranstone D (eds), Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London), 9–11.
Claughton P 1992, ‘Medieval silver-lead smelting in Devon’, in Willies L and Cranstone D (eds) Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London), 12–15.
Collins H F 1910, The metallurgy of lead (London).
Fairbairn R A 2007, ‘A tenth-century lead-smelting site in West Allendale’, British Mining 83, 47–51.
Farey J 1811, Agriculture and minerals of Derbyshire, Vol 1 (Reprinted by Peak District Mines Historical Society, Matlock Bath, 1989).
Hoover H C and L H (trans) 1950, Agricola G: De Re Metallica, 1556 (New York).
Kiernan D 1989, The Derbyshire lead industry in the sixteenth century (Derbyshire Record Society, Chesterfield).
Kiernan D and van de Noort R 1992 ‘Bole Smelting in Derbyshire’, in Willies L and Cranstone D (eds) Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London), 19–21.
Megaw B 1960-1, ‘Bakenwaldwath and the medieval lead mines’, Journal of the Manx Museum 6, 105–7.
Percy J 1861, Metallurgy: Vol 1. Fuel, fireclays, copper, zinc and brass (Reprint, Eindhoven, 1986).
Philips J A and Bauerman H 1891, Elements of metallurgy (London).
Radley J 1969, ‘A triple cairn and a rectangular cairn of the Bronze Age on Beeley Moor’, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 89, 1–17.
Raistrick A and Jennings B 1965, A history of lead mining in the Pennines (London).
Scott W W 1927, Chemical methods for the analysis of metallurgical products, 2nd edition (Norwood, Mass).
Smith R 2006, ‘Radiocarbon dating of early lead smelting sites’, British Mining Memoirs 80, 74–110.
Smith R and Murphy S 2003, ‘Bale smelting sites at Calver Hill, Swaledale, Yorkshire’, British Mining Memoirs 73, 46–71.
Timberlake S 2002, ‘Medieval lead smelting boles near Penguelan, Cwmystwyth’, Archaeology in Wales 42, 45–59.
Todd M 1996, ‘Ancient mining on Mendip, Somerset’, in Newman P (ed), Mining and metallurgy in South West Britain (Peak District Mines Historical Society and Historical Metallurgy Society, Matlock Bath).
Tylecote R F 1986, The prehistory of metallurgy in the British Isles (London).
Willies L and Cranstone D (eds) 1992, Boles and smeltmills (Historical Metallurgy Society: Special Publication, London).
Willies L 1990, ‘Derbyshire lead smelting in the 18th and 19th centuries’. Bulletin Peak District Mines Historical Society 11(1), 1–19.
Willies L 1994, ‘Firesetting technology’, in Ford T D and Willies L (eds) Mining before powder (Peak District Mines Historical Society and Historical Metallurgy Society. Matlock Bath) 1–9.
Willies L 2002, ‘The wedge effect in firesetting of a Sarsen at Overton, Wiltshire’, Mining History 15.1, 9–51.
How to Cite
Bole lead smelting technology and the Linch Clough (Derbyshire) bole. (2021). Historical Metallurgy, 43(1), 19-32. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/176
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How to Cite
Bole lead smelting technology and the Linch Clough (Derbyshire) bole. (2021). Historical Metallurgy, 43(1), 19-32. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/176