Posted by John Wilson on March 30, 2009 at 09:11:07 user hugo.
In Reply to: Re: Braithwaite and Lewthwaite, was Owdon posted by Peter Ceresole on March 29, 2009 at 04:12:10:
Up to the mid-18th century when smelting using Coke from Coal was developed, Iron was smelted using Charcoal which must have required much firewood. The Wikipedia article supports this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smelting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ferrous_metallurgy
What was the charcoal produced by the Billies in the 1930s used for? Home heating or cooking, as the small towns eg Rio and farms would not have had reticulated (coal) gas? Offcuts and branches would have been available from the timber the woodmen were milling, but the Billies would need a steady supply of wood.