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Wealden Iron Research Group

Studying the Iron Industry in South East England

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Wealden Iron Research Group

The Horam Experiments

Henry Cleere conducted four experimental smelts at Horam in July 1969, and the working papers of experiments 2 to 4 have survived. He wrote up the results of the experiments for an article, ‘Ironmaking in a Roman furnace’ published in the journal Britannia, vol. 2 (1971), pp. 203-217. He also drafted an article for Alloys & Metal Review .

Images of the experiments can be seen here:

The quarry face at Sharpthorne brickworks
The quarry face at Sharpthorne brickworks (detail)
Henry puddling the roasting pit
The roasting pit at Horam
Ore roasting pit at Horam
Ore roasting trench at Horam
The bloomery furnace
The bloomery furnace 3ft high
The bloomery furnace
Bloomery furnace tapping arch
The bloomery furnace with air pipe inserted
Henry Cleere at the bloomery furnace
The electric furnace blower

Experimental smelt 2

Smelt details sheet 2
Smelt details sheet 1
Smelt result
Smelt record sheet 1
Smelt record sheet 2
Smelt record sheet 3
Smelt record sheet 4
Charging chart
Thermocouple temperatures chart

Experimental smelt 3

Thermocouple temperatures chart
Charging chart
Smelt details
Smelt record sheet 1
Smelt record sheet 2
Result sheet

Experimental smelt 4

Thermocouple temperatures  chart
Charging chart
Smelt details
Smelt record sheet 1
Smelt record sheet 2

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PUBLISHED BY THE WEALDEN IRON RESEARCH GROUP

Adventure In Iron
The blast furnace and its spread from Namur to northern France, England and North America, 1450-1650; a technological, political and genealogical investigation
by Brian Awty
Available from
The Wealden Iron Research Group

What’s On

  • EXPERIMENTAL SMELTING
  • Historical Metallurgy Society Festival of Metals
  • More Paintings of Early-Modern Ironworks
  • A smelt using the new reciprocating blower
  • GREAT PARK WOOD EXCAVATION – 2025 EXCAVATION DATES
  • Help Needed – Who owns Roman sites?

  • Home
  • The Wealden Iron Industry
  • About WIRG and How to Join
  • Publications
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  • Photo Archive
  • Experimental Ironmaking
  • WIRG Study Visits
  • Where to see Wealden Iron
  • SITES & PEOPLE DATABASE
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