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 Surrey
~ History
The recent
industrial past
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Industry
Surrey's
general poor soil quality and hilly terrain meant that much of it was left
uncultivated for most of its history, even now the county is not
particularly famous for its farms! Surrey however thrived on its proximity
to London and its own industries developed, in particular around the use
of its clean and plentiful water.
Therefore the county was well known for its
numerous mills, corn, iron,
copper, calico and paper, which were spread along the paths of its rivers.
These mills were active in Surrey from the early C17 until
1928 when the last mill closed.
Other industries depended on the use of
local materials, extractive works were always important in Surrey. The
soils of the county divide into two main areas, that north of the chalk
downs with soils of the London Basin and acid Bagshot sands, to land to
the south taking in the greensands, the gault and the claylands of the
Weald. Much of the land is acid and thin or heavy and wooded therefore not
suitable for agriculture.
The first native glass
industry commenced in south west Surrey in C13 and C14
making use of
the local sand, stone and clay, together with oak and coppice wood for firing the
furnaces. This skill was brought to Surrey by immigrants from Normandy and
Lorraine. Another main industry during C14 to C16 was iron, the ore coming from the clay ironstone of the Weald. Other
rural work was based  on
woollen cloth
which made a number of monastic foundations in Surrey rich for a
time, though manufacture is now confined to Godalming.
The making of
gunpowder was introduced by Elizabeth I and for a long time it
was a Surrey monopoly which died only with the closure of the Chilworth
works after World War I.
Modern industries spread radially
from the medieval centre at Southwark as communications improved
while older industries vanished.
Little trace of these early industries, except for the ponds
that gave their motive power, can now be seen.
The traditions of Surrey's industrial past is very much alive with many and
varied arts and crafts still being practiced all over the County.
There are numerous places of interest to visit, many of which look back in
time at the way people lived and worked.
The third group of buttons in the margin show this
subject's linked pages - so click, read on and enjoy!
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