Dud Dudley: Difference between revisions
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Dud Dudley was the fourth of eleven children by Elizabeth, the daughter of William Tomlinson. His eldest brother was Robert Dudley of Netherton Hall. Dud was to marry an Elieanor (ne) Heaton, (b1606 |
Dud Dudley born in 1898, was the fourth of eleven children by Elizabeth, the daughter of William Tomlinson. His eldest brother was Robert Dudley of Netherton Hall. Dud was to marry an Elieanor (ne) Heaton, (b1606-d 1675), on the 12th October in 1626 at St. Helen's Church, [[Worcester]]. |
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Edward, Earl of Dudley also had a son named as Sir Ferdinando Dudley by his wife Theodosia Harrington. Sir Ferdinando's only daughter Frances married Humble Ward, son and heir of William Ward, goldsmith and jeweller to Charles Ist's queen. Her husband having been created a baron with the title of Baron Ward of Birmingham, and Frances becoming Baroness of Dudley in her own right with the death of her father, the baronies of Dudley and Ward thus became united in their eldest son Edward in the year 1697. |
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When a youth, in his father's iron-works near Dudley, Dud begun his study of the various processes of iron manufacture. |
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In 1618 Dud Dudley, left Balliol College, Oxford, at the age of 20 to take over his fathers furnace & forges on Pensnett Chase. He introduced the use of coal instead of charcoal for the smelting of Iron, being granted a Royal Patent in 1620. |
In 1618 Dud Dudley, left Balliol College, Oxford, at the age of 20 to take over his fathers furnace & forges on Pensnett Chase. He introduced the use of coal instead of charcoal for the smelting of Iron, being granted a Royal Patent in 1620. |
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From Dudley Castle the Sutton lords of Dudley controlled a large area of the West Midlands. The most enduring of their legacies perhaps being the Market Town of Dudley itself. |
From Dudley Castle the Sutton lords of Dudley controlled a large area of the West Midlands. The most enduring of their legacies perhaps being the Market Town of Dudley itself. There were about 2,000 smiths and workers in iron of various kinds living within ten miles of Dudley Castle. The town of Dudley was already a centre of iron production, in the main supplying the domestic market with such items as nails, horse-shoes, keys, locks, and essential agricultural implements. |
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| ⚫ | With such an obvious abundance of coal, some places being found in seams up to ten feet thick, and ironstone four feet in depth immediately under the coal, and with limestone adjacent to both Dud Dudley was the first ironmaster to abandon charcoal burning in favour of experimenting with coal (coke) for the smelting of iron ore. |
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There were about 2,000 smiths and workers in iron of various kinds living within ten miles of Dudley Castle. The town of Dudley was already a centre of iron production, in the main supplying the domestic market with such items as nails, horse-shoes, keys, locks, and essential agricultural implements. |
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| ⚫ | Dud was favoured by his father, who encouraged his speculations with the improvement of iron production, giving him an education intended to enhance his practical abilities. He was studying at Baliol College, at Oxford, in 1619, when the Earl sent for him to take charge of a furnace and two forges at Pensnet in [[Worcestershire]]. |
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| ⚫ | With such an obvious abundance of coal, some places being in seams ten feet thick and ironstone four feet |
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| ⚫ | Young, intelligent and loyal, his first act as manager of the works, hampered by the want of wood for combustion, was in the exploitation of pit-coal as a substitute fuel. The standard metallurgical fuel available then was charcoal, with an complete reliance upon wood for smelting gradually destabilizing Britain's naval and mercantile strength Dudley adapted his furnace to accommodate the new process, but the quantity initially produced was about three ton in a week from each furnace. Nevertheless Dud wrote to his father, then in London, informing him of his success, desiring him to immediately seek a patent from King James. |
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He was studying at Baliol College, at Oxford, in 1619, when the Earl sent for him to take charge of a furnace and two forges at Pensnet in Worcestershire. Young, intelligent and clearly loyal his first act as manager of the works, clearly hampered by the want of wood for combustion, was in the employment of pit-coal as a substitute fuel. |
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| ⚫ | The standard metallurgical fuel available then was charcoal, with an complete reliance upon wood for smelting gradually destabilizing Britain's naval and mercantile strength Dudley adapted his furnace to accommodate the new process, but the quantity initially produced was about three ton in a week from each furnace. Nevertheless Dud wrote to his father, then in London, informing him of his success, desiring him to immediately seek a patent from King James. |
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Dudley's patent, dated 22nd February, 1620, was taken out in the name of Edward Lord Dudley. |
Dudley's patent, dated 22nd February, 1620, was taken out in the name of Edward Lord Dudley. |
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Dud proceeded with the manufacture of iron at Pensnet, and Cradley in Staffordshire, and a year after the patent was granted he was able to send a considerable quantity of the new iron for trial to the Tower, under the King's command. Many experiments were made with it: its qualities were fairly tested, and it was pronounced "good merchantable iron." |
Dud proceeded with the manufacture of iron at [[Pensnet]], and [[Cradley]] in [[Staffordshire]], and a year after the patent was granted he was able to send a considerable quantity of the new iron for trial to the Tower, under the King's command. Many experiments were made with it: its qualities were fairly tested, and it was pronounced "good merchantable iron." |
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His many competitors had seen him making quality iron by his new patent process, undercutting them on price, and so accordingly put into circulation |
His many competitors had seen him making quality iron by his new patent process, undercutting them on price, and so accordingly put into circulation disapproving reports about his product, appealing to King James to prevent Dud's industry, by claiming his product was not merchantable. |
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==The Great May day Flood.== |
==The Great May day Flood.== |
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"At the market town called Stourbridge," according to Dud, "although the author sent with speed to preserve the people from drowning, and one resolute man was carried from the bridge there in the day time, the nether part of the town was so deep in water that the people had much ado to preserve their lives in the uppermost rooms of their houses." |
"At the market town called Stourbridge," according to Dud, "although the author sent with speed to preserve the people from drowning, and one resolute man was carried from the bridge there in the day time, the nether part of the town was so deep in water that the people had much ado to preserve their lives in the uppermost rooms of their houses." |
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Dudley himself received very little sympathy for his losses. On the contrary, the iron-smelters of the district celebrated the destruction of his works by the flood |
Dudley himself received very little sympathy for his losses. On the contrary, the iron-smelters of the district celebrated the destruction of his works by the flood, anticipating there might be an end to Dudley's pit-coal iron. Dud, undaunted and with a passion, set to work repairing his furnaces and forges at some great cost; and in a short time was again back in full production. |
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Other ironmasters continued to seek his downfall, addressing |
Other ironmasters continued to seek his downfall, addressing complaints against Dud and his iron to the King. In order to ascertain the quality of the product by testing it on a large scale, the King commanded Dud to send to the [[Tower of London]], quantities of all the various sorts of bar-iron made by him, fit for the "making of [[muskets]], [[carbines]], and iron for great bolts for shipping; which iron", records Dud, "being so tried by artists and smiths, the ironmasters and iron-mongers were all silenced until the 21st year of King James's reign." |
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Tribulations of Dud Dudley during the Civil War. |
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Dud's ill fortune continued to pursue him. The patent had scarcely been secured as the Civil War broke out. Dud Dudley's |
Dud's ill fortune continued to pursue him. The patent had scarcely been secured as the Civil War broke out. Dud Dudley's inovation of smelting iron with coke made of pit-coal, was ahead of its time. It was unappreciated by the iron-masters and the workmen. All schemes for smelting ore with any other fuel than charcoal made from wood were regarded with incredulity. |
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Dudley himself does not seem to have been able to make more on an average than five ton a week, with seven ton at the outside. Nor was the iron so good as that made by charcoal; as it is admitted to have been notably liable to deterioration by the sulphurous fumes of the coal during its manufacture. |
Dudley himself does not seem to have been able to make more on an average than five ton a week, with seven ton at the outside. Nor was the iron so good as that made by charcoal; as it is admitted to have been notably liable to deterioration by the sulphurous fumes of the coal during its manufacture. |
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==Metallum Martis== |
==Metallum Martis== |
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"Metallum Martis" is Dud Dudley's personal view of his discovery and attendant misfortunes, published after the Reformation, when he had petitioned King Charles II, to restore his lands & patents, only to be rejected. |
"[[Metallum Martis]]" is Dud Dudley's personal view of his discovery and attendant misfortunes, published after the Reformation, when he had petitioned King Charles II, to restore his lands & patents, only to be rejected. |
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Metallum Martis; or "Iron made with Pit-Coale, Sea-Coale, &c. And with the same Fuell to Melt and Fine Imperfect Mettals, And Refine perfect Mettals" by Dud Dudley is the earliest known reference to the use of coal in metallurgical smelting. |
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Many attendant difficulties had to be overcome before this fuel could be applied to the purpose of smelting iron. Dudley does not describe in his book how he was using coal, only that he was and in so doing laid the foundation work for future discoveries. It is most probable that in substituting coal for wood as fuel, he would further subject the coal to a process not unlike that made in charcoal-burning. |
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The result would be what is called Coke; and as Dudley informs us that he followed up his first experiment with a second blast, by means of which he was enabled to produce good marketable iron, the presumption is that his success was also due to an improvement of the blast which he contrived for the purpose of keeping up the active combustion of the fuel. |
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A significant feature of his great work Metallum Martis is a map showing Dudley Castle around which he correctly identifies the stratigraphic order and geographic layout of beds of coal and ironstone. This is, we believe, the earliest known geological map and reflects a key point in the development of scientific thinking and information recording and interpretation. It is thought that the worlds first geological map was made of Castle Hill in Dudley by Dud Dudley in 1665. |
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Revision as of 13:13, 11 June 2004
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Dud Dudley born in 1898, was the fourth of eleven children by Elizabeth, the daughter of William Tomlinson. His eldest brother was Robert Dudley of Netherton Hall. Dud was to marry an Elieanor (ne) Heaton, (b1606-d 1675), on the 12th October in 1626 at St. Helen's Church, Worcester.
Lord Dudley, although having legitimate heirs at the time, seems to have attended to the education of his natural children with equal attention. When a youth, in his father's iron-works near Dudley, Dud begun his study of the various processes of iron manufacture.
In 1618 Dud Dudley, left Balliol College, Oxford, at the age of 20 to take over his fathers furnace & forges on Pensnett Chase. He introduced the use of coal instead of charcoal for the smelting of Iron, being granted a Royal Patent in 1620.
From Dudley Castle the Sutton lords of Dudley controlled a large area of the West Midlands. The most enduring of their legacies perhaps being the Market Town of Dudley itself. There were about 2,000 smiths and workers in iron of various kinds living within ten miles of Dudley Castle. The town of Dudley was already a centre of iron production, in the main supplying the domestic market with such items as nails, horse-shoes, keys, locks, and essential agricultural implements.
With such an obvious abundance of coal, some places being found in seams up to ten feet thick, and ironstone four feet in depth immediately under the coal, and with limestone adjacent to both Dud Dudley was the first ironmaster to abandon charcoal burning in favour of experimenting with coal (coke) for the smelting of iron ore.
Dud was favoured by his father, who encouraged his speculations with the improvement of iron production, giving him an education intended to enhance his practical abilities. He was studying at Baliol College, at Oxford, in 1619, when the Earl sent for him to take charge of a furnace and two forges at Pensnet in Worcestershire.
Young, intelligent and loyal, his first act as manager of the works, hampered by the want of wood for combustion, was in the exploitation of pit-coal as a substitute fuel. The standard metallurgical fuel available then was charcoal, with an complete reliance upon wood for smelting gradually destabilizing Britain's naval and mercantile strength Dudley adapted his furnace to accommodate the new process, but the quantity initially produced was about three ton in a week from each furnace. Nevertheless Dud wrote to his father, then in London, informing him of his success, desiring him to immediately seek a patent from King James.
Dudley's patent, dated 22nd February, 1620, was taken out in the name of Edward Lord Dudley.
Dud proceeded with the manufacture of iron at Pensnet, and Cradley in Staffordshire, and a year after the patent was granted he was able to send a considerable quantity of the new iron for trial to the Tower, under the King's command. Many experiments were made with it: its qualities were fairly tested, and it was pronounced "good merchantable iron."
His many competitors had seen him making quality iron by his new patent process, undercutting them on price, and so accordingly put into circulation disapproving reports about his product, appealing to King James to prevent Dud's industry, by claiming his product was not merchantable.
The Great May day Flood.
The new works had been in successful operation little more than a year, when a flood, long after known as the "Great May day Flood," swept away Dudley's principal works at Cradley, and otherwise inflicted much damage throughout the district.
"At the market town called Stourbridge," according to Dud, "although the author sent with speed to preserve the people from drowning, and one resolute man was carried from the bridge there in the day time, the nether part of the town was so deep in water that the people had much ado to preserve their lives in the uppermost rooms of their houses."
Dudley himself received very little sympathy for his losses. On the contrary, the iron-smelters of the district celebrated the destruction of his works by the flood, anticipating there might be an end to Dudley's pit-coal iron. Dud, undaunted and with a passion, set to work repairing his furnaces and forges at some great cost; and in a short time was again back in full production.
Other ironmasters continued to seek his downfall, addressing complaints against Dud and his iron to the King. In order to ascertain the quality of the product by testing it on a large scale, the King commanded Dud to send to the Tower of London, quantities of all the various sorts of bar-iron made by him, fit for the "making of muskets, carbines, and iron for great bolts for shipping; which iron", records Dud, "being so tried by artists and smiths, the ironmasters and iron-mongers were all silenced until the 21st year of King James's reign."
Dud's ill fortune continued to pursue him. The patent had scarcely been secured as the Civil War broke out. Dud Dudley's inovation of smelting iron with coke made of pit-coal, was ahead of its time. It was unappreciated by the iron-masters and the workmen. All schemes for smelting ore with any other fuel than charcoal made from wood were regarded with incredulity.
Dudley himself does not seem to have been able to make more on an average than five ton a week, with seven ton at the outside. Nor was the iron so good as that made by charcoal; as it is admitted to have been notably liable to deterioration by the sulphurous fumes of the coal during its manufacture.
Metallum Martis
"Metallum Martis" is Dud Dudley's personal view of his discovery and attendant misfortunes, published after the Reformation, when he had petitioned King Charles II, to restore his lands & patents, only to be rejected.
Curious note:
‘In 1722 it was ordered that ‘iron work at Deptford, Woolwich, and Chatham was to be wrought up under a Master Smith selected from persons fitly qualified’. Thomas Dudley was given the first appointment of Master Smith at Chatham Dockyard, in 1723 and retained this position until 1746.