Several generations have now passed since iron making and working
was an important trade in the Black Country. It was started by
itinerant bloomers, who moved their bloomeries around the district
to make use of local supplies of ore, smelting it with charcoal
made from forest wood. Water-powered bloomeries were eventually
replaced by blast furnaces, which in turn were replaced by
coke-fired smelting furnaces. Black Country ironmasters had their
share of success and failure, profits and loss, wealth and
bankruptcy. Such is the nature of the trade that supply and demand
created periods of expansion and then through over production an
inevitable slump. Political factors also had influence. Wars
created increased demand for iron for ordnance. When the battles
were over and the wars won or lost, the bigger losers were the
ironmasters and their workforce. However matters changed through
the mid-nineteenth century, during the reign of Queen Victoria,
when innovation and invention reached new heights.
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