(TQ 72803586) 51 deg. 5' 40" N. 0 deg. 28' 5" E. Bedgebury Forge, Goudhurst. In 1574 Sir Alexander Culpepper had "one furnace in Gaudherste also Badbridge furnace in Cranbrooke pishe" - inanother list spelt Badbury. In 1664 the furnace was "discontinued before 1664, but repaired, stocked upon account of the warre". The forge was not mentioned at either date, but may have been considered to have been the same establishment. All traces of it havedisappeared. The site is a large hop farm. [For the furnace site, see TQ 73 SW 5] Place names: Forge Farm, Pond Field, Forge Mead, Forge Hop Garden, Little Forge Field. (1) All that survives of Bedgebury Forge is a fragment of the E. end of the pond-bay; surveyed at 1:2500. The hammer could not be sited and no cinder was found. (2) TQ 727357, Bedgebury Forge, Goudhurst, a water-powered site. Bay, mainly destroyed. Possible part survives as 22 metre long bank between disused railway and the stream; faint signs of west end on road leading to Bedgebury Furnace. Present 'Forge Farm' house probably occupies remainder of bay and working area; has pond-like meadow to south (Pond Field at TQ 728355). Remainder of bay and all cinder probably removed to construct nearby railway bank. No references known; all sources mention the furnace. (3)

<1> Wealden Iron 1931 282 (E Straker) (OS Card Reference). SKE51295.

<2> F1 CFW 20.02.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42656.

<3> Iron Ind of the Weald 1985 313-14 (H Cleere & D Crossley) (OS Card Reference). SKE44513.

<4> Field report for monument TQ 73 NW 6 - February, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3710.