Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

Metal
Despite the close proximity of the riverside forge at Clifford Chambers which
converted pig-iron to bar-iron, metalworkers in the Champion Country were few and farbetween
apart from the almost ubiquitous blacksmiths. 140
The men who repaired the church clock at Salford Priors before 1750 may have
been skilful blacksmiths rather than specialist clockmakers, but Mr. Halford, who made
Bidford’s clock was probably related to the watchmaker of the same name in nearby
Temple Grafton. 141
One wonders whether he made the whole clock himself or assembled
parts brought in from elsewhere. In the nineteenth century clockmakers were joined in
Bidford by the odd brazier and button-maker. 142
Probate inventories shed light on the working practice and living style of local
blacksmiths. The inventory of Thomas Goodwin reveals the varied work undertaken by a
rural blacksmith, while debts due to Richard Roberts serve as a reminder that, like many
other craftsmen, smiths were not paid after each completed job, but ran up an account
which, if lucky, was settled, perhaps annually. 143
The household goods of blacksmith,
George Mills, include a clock and ‘ticknyware’, indicating that even modest households
140 For information about Clifford Forge and other local ironmaking forges I am indebted to Dr Peter King
of Hagley, Worcestershire, and his gazetteer of iron forges (in preparation). Clifford Forge probably
operated from 1673 until 1751. Table 5.6 (baptisms 1813-1840) shows that 1.6% of fathers were
blacksmiths/farriers, while other metalworkers comprised only 0.2%. Table 5.8 (1841 census) has a figure
of 2.0% for blacksmiths and 0.3% for other metal workers. Some needlemakers were based in Welford in
Period D, but they are not recorded in baptisms nor the 1841 census.
141 J. McKenna, Watch and Clockmakers of the British Isles: Warwickshire, (Birmingham, Pendulum Press,
no date), p. 29. As well as Halford the author mentions Smyth, Hale and Roberts mending Salford Priors
church clock between 1660 and 1720.
142 WaRO, 1841 census and Bidford baptisms 1813-1840.
143 WoRO, probate of Thomas Goodwin, Bidford, blacksmith, 1731, £140-2-9. He shoed horses and made
or repaired plough-shares, spades and shovels. GlosRO, probate of Richard Roberts, Welford, blacksmith,
1695, £38-6-8, lists debts in the shop book.
172