TQ 466402. Post medieval blast furnace at Cowden Mill. Documentary evidence points to a hitherto unrecorded blast-furnace at Cowden. Cowden Mill seems to be the probable site supported by field name evidence and the presence of blast furnace slag. Information from C.F. Tebbutt. (1) TQ 466402, Cowden Lower Furnace. Water-powered. Not included by Straker.Bay none. Water system. Dry leat 350m long runs from wier on the north side of Kent Water along the north side of Furnace Mead, Tithe Award, to disused cornmill. Working area. All indication destroyed by mill. Scatter of glassy slag at east end of leat, on allotments north east of mill and on adjacent road. The only convincing reference to a furnace at Cowden which is distinguished from Scarlets (TQ 44 SW 4) or the Upper furnace (TQ 44 SE 1) is in 1590. The 1664 reference to an abandoned 'Lower furnace 'could refer to either of the Cowden sites. (3,2)

<1> Post Md Arch vol 15 1981 230 (J Cherry) (OS Card Reference). SKE48539.

<2> Iron Ind of the Weald 1985 325 (H Cleere & D Crossley) (OS Card Reference). SKE44515.

<3> Wealden Iron 1931 (E Straker) (OS Card Reference). SKE51282.