Showing 39 results

Notes on iron-making techniques, 1763-1788, comprising papers relating to pig and bar iron and iron ores, 1763-1787; and papers relating to gun barrel forging and light cannon casting, 1769-1788. The papers are drawn from Bedford's own practice and experimentation at his forge, as well as from journeys through England and visits to other operations. Details of the techniques and employees of other businesses, mainly those in London and Birmingham, are also therefore included. The notes reflect Bedford's continuing interest in these areas of iron manufacture.

Notes relating to the production of pig and bar iron and papers concerning the quality of iron ores, 1763-1787. Journey notes are also included as they refer mainly to forging techniques.

Notes relating to pig and bar iron, 1763-1787, including observations on making and refining pig and bar iron; a draft report made whilst working at the forge at Trostrey that was intended for a House of Commons Committee, 1781; notes on working cast iron in a wood charcoal refinery; notes from the balling forge at Cefn Cribwr, including references to the Bassaleg and Machen forges; notes on the size of the blast furnace and weight of coke to be used; notes on using the forge hammer and anvil at Cefn Cribwr; and an envelope of undated fragments relating to processing techniques and experiments with acid.

Journey notes and observations, 1766-1787, including notes from visits to London and Birmingham in 1766 concerning the manufacture of pig and bar iron. The notes contain the names and addresses of businessmen and details of their work, and notes on lead imports and exports in London. Also included are notes on forge processes at a foundry in Bristol, 1787, and observations on water wheels.

Notes on the nature and quality of iron ores in England and Wales and overseas, 1779-1784, including studies of Bedford's own repository of ores; lecture notes on iron ores and smelting; observations on the chemical principles of iron ores; notes on ores in America; notes on how to make steel from English iron ore; and comments on smelting ores in a small blast furnace.

Papers relating to gun barrel forging, 1766-1786, including comments on the practices of tradesmen at other forges in Birmingham and London; notes on transporting coal by wagon; observations on forging barrels for fine fowling guns; and a list of workmen willing to move to Cefn Cribwr to work.

Notes relating to gun barrel forging and light cannon casting, 1769-1788, including observations and comments from Bedford's visits to other forges, largely in Birmingham and London, and details of men with whom he studied these processes.

Papers relating to light cannon casting, 1776-1788, including observations on the use of cast-iron in the manufacture of cannons, and notes on improving the quality of the metal used to make it more resilient in cold weather and less susceptible to rust, 1776. The file also includes notes on Bedford's plans to make light cast-iron cannons with the intention of gaining the approval of high-ranking officials and the Board of Ordnance, 1779; and sheets of unrelated notes and observations on fine fowling guns, malleable cannons, and anchor parts for naval ships.

Material relating to the management of Bedford's estates at Rogerstone and Cefn Cribwr and his various other business concerns, 1766-1791, comprising papers concerning land management and general business, 1780-1791; financial papers, 1766-1787, including some fragmentary accounts from the Trostrey works; and papers recording his progress with building works, 1766-1788.

Papers relating to land management, 1780-1791, including a land security plan, notes on forge shares, land transactions and plans for a new company that were drawn up in the last year of Bedford's life, presumably when his venture at Cefn Cribwr had failed to prove successful. The file also includes a fragment of a letter concerning land issues.

Administrative and general business papers largely relating to Bedford's forge at Cefn Cribwr and his various other business ventures, 1780-1791.

Papers relating to general business matters, 1781-1787, including rules for trading wholesale materials with a coal yard, 1787; notes on the price of local materials; the cost of the forge at Cefn Cribwr standing still, 1787; and Bedford's thoughts on partnerships and transport.

Papers relating to the financial aspects of Bedford's business, 1766-1787, comprising accounts, 1766-1778, and papers concerning workmen and their salaries, 1767-1787.

Papers relating to salaries and terms of employment, 1767-1787, including drafts of the terms and conditions of employment for labourers, forgemen and apprentices at Cefn Cribwr; information on wages and length of employment; and notes concerning certain employees.

Papers relating to building works at Rogerstone and Cefn Cribwr, 1766-1788, comprising notes, sketches and plans for the building of various parts of both forges, and notes on alterations to estate infrastructure at Cefn Cribwr.

Papers relating to the planning and building of a forge at Rogerstone and a blast air furnace at Cefn Cribwr, 1766-1788, including notes on the design and structure of the forge and furnace; records of the dimensions and materials agreed upon with the builders; papers concerning firebricks for the furnace; and notes on settling the forge hammer and on improving the forge bellows at Cefn Cribwr. The file also contains a drawing by John Bedford of furnace blowing cylinders at Ketley Furnace, Shropshire, in 1772.

Papers relating to estate infrastructure at Cefn Cribwr, 1771-1785, including notes on the state of the roads at the forge; plans for two new canals at the forge and at a small colliery nearby; and some notes on stirring canals, improving meadows by mixing canal soils and lime, and on mending a broken dam. The file also contains pages from various booklets on water wheels and troughs; justifications for using one water wheel at Cefn Cribwr; and a printed plan of the canal from Coventry to Oxford, 1771.

Papers relating to the building of stone arches, 1782-1787, including general notes on the design and construction of arches, measurements, details regarding keystones, and notes on the arches at the furnace in Cefn Cribwr. The papers within this file reflect Bedford's long-standing interest in the field. A builder's estimate for a house in Birmingham is also included.

Papers relating to Bedford's business matters and personal affairs, 1766-1789, comprising outgoing letters to various individuals and organisations, 1766-1789, petitions to organisations on matters concerning premiums for his work, 1769-1786, and miscellaneous notes recording his thoughts on matters largely unrelated to the iron industry.

Correspondence, 1766-1789, mainly comprising draft letters from John Bedford to various correspondents concerning both personal affairs and business matters. It is not clear how many of these letters were sent.