Bromley Hill Iron and Coal Co
near Coleford, Forest of Dean, Glos.
1851 'BANKRUPTS.[1] .....Bromley Hill Iron and Coal Company, Bream, Gloucestershire, manufacturers of iron; solicitors, Messrs. Abbott and Lucas, Bristol.'[2]
1851 'Messrs. ADAM, MURRAY, & SON WILL SELL BY AUCTION, At Garraway's Coffee House, Change Alley, Cornhill, on Monday, the 2d day of June next, (unless an acceptable offer is previously made by Private Contract, one week at least before that date,) THE BROMLEY HILL COAL AND IRON WORKS, comprising the BROMLEY HILL and MIDSUMMER LEVELS, containing 200 Acres; and the IRON MINE adjoining, containing 400 Acres, with Steam Engine of 45-horse power, and a Blast Furnace, capable of smelting 80 to 90 tons of Pig Iron per week, situate in the village of Bream, four miles from Coleford. For particulars apply to Messrs. Chaplin, Richards, and Stubbin, Solicitors, Birmingham ; Arthur Ryland, Esq. Birmingham ; of Messrs. Abbott and Lucas, Solicitors, Bristol; at the Place of Sale; or to Messrs. Adam, Murray, and Son, Surveyors and Land Agents, 35, Craven Street, London.'[3]
1852 'THE following Prisoner, whose Estate and Effects have been vested in the Provisional Assignee order of the Court, and whose Petition and Schedule filed in (he Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors, have been duly referred and transmitted to the County Court of Warwickshire, at Coventry, pursuant the Statute in that behalf, is ordered to brought up before the Judge at the said County Court, at Coventry aforesaid, to be dealt with according to law, on TUESDAY, the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
CHARLES JARVIS the Elder, late and for about seven weeks of Number 28, Sheep Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, out of business; previously and for about eight months of Number 53, Moland Street, in Birmingham aforesaid, out of business; and formerly and for about five years of the Forest of Dean, in the County of Gloucester, Manager of the Bromley Hill Iron Works, and trading in Partnership with John Passand Lichfield, under the style or firm of the Bromley Hill Iron Company.
ALFRED BALDWIN EAST, Solicitor, 77, Newhall Street, Birmingham.'[4]
1854 'The blast furnace which was some years ago erected by the Bromley Hill Iron and Coal Company, in the Oakwood Valley, near Breem, but the works in connection with which were never carried out, has, together with the extensive award of iron mine adjoining, the machinery, &c. been purchased by the Ebbw Vale Iron Company. The transfer has caused much rejoicing amongst the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who hail with delight the introduction of gentlemen of such commercial eminence and distinction into the Forest.'[5]
Blast Furnace
Information about the Bromley Hill Furnace, also known as Oakwood Furnace, was provided by Cyril Hart in 'The Industrial History of Dean'[6]. He suggests that it probably worked from c.1865-70. It was certainly out of blast during 1871-80. Some of the remains were still visible in 1971, showing that it was a three tuyere square furnace, built into the hillside. The charging floor foindations could still be seen anout 40 ft above the casting floor (to the south of the furnace). The blowing engine had been to the east of the furnace. Debris suggested that a mix of coke and charcoal had been used as fuel. The slag heap appeared to have been removed.