Hubbals Mill

Hubbals Mill (SO 619915) was a forge on the Mor Brook that operated throughout most of the 17th Century.

Hubbals Mill

Hubbals probably originated in the early 17th Century. It stood on land belonging to the Whitmore family and it was claimed that Sir William Whitmore (1573-1648) altered the course of the brook by replacing a corn mill with the forge (Shropshire Archives 6000/9685). It seems to have been leased to John Weld, who had an interest in Willey Furnace. The forge is shown on a c1632 map of the estates of Sir William Whitmore. The map shows it as having two water wheels, perhaps reflecting the need to power bellows at both the finery and chafery although a third wheel would also be expected for a trip-hammer. In 1652 the lease of the forge, for £65 pa, was transferred from Richard Brindley to Thomas Foley (Herefordshire Record Office, E12/VI/KAc/69). The details of this transfer show that it obtained charcoal from Billingsley and woods in “Yeardon”, possibly Eardington (See the link on the left to "Coppices in the 17th Century" for more details of the this; there was a dispute between Brindley and Foley as to the amount of wood that had been delivered for conversion to charcoal). Thomas Foley had an extensive network of furnaces and forges, mainly around the Stour in Staffordshire but also including a blast furnace at Hampton Loade; Brindley was a relation and partner in some of his operations. The forge probably took iron from one of the Foley furnaces of which Hampton Loade would be the nearest. The forge was to remain with the Foley family for the rest of its existence.

From 1669 to 1672 Philip Foley, son of Thomas, held the lease of the forge. The published accounts of Philip show that Hubbals was part of a large trading empire. It received pig iron from Grange (near Wolverhampton) and Hales (Halesowen) furnaces. In turn it made the very high quality Osmund iron which was sent to Bridgnorth and Bewdley, probably for onward despatch. Some Osmund iron was sent all the way to Tintern, in the Forest of Dean. Latterly Hubbals made around 50 tons of iron a year, although from 1669 it also consistently lost £40 to £50 a year. In 1672 Philip Foley gave up the forge; it was probably demolished at this point.

The Inventory of Hubbals Mill in 1672

This inventory was drawn up in 1672 when Philip Foley abandoned Hubbals. It appears that the forge was now owned by John Weld, who must have purchased it from the Whitmore family. It seems to show that the forge was to be demolished and anything useful was being purchased by Foley, to be reused at his other iron works. The original is in the Herefordshire Record Office, E12/VI/KBc/33


An account of materials left at Hubballs Mill forge which John Weld hath sold to Philip Foley Esq., 15th August 1672.

1 hammer, beam and gudgeons £13-0-0
1 finery wheel and shaft £4-0-0
1 puppitt and 2 logs 10/-
1 hoop about the anvil block, a collerony and a rabbitt 9/-
…. Several implements as by a schedule of ye particulars appears which was to be left at the expiring of the lease £38-1-10
Total £56-0-10
Md of my wt shall have ye anvil block with all ye plates in it and all ye cast and wrought iron in general, in and about ye work. Sir John to be at ye charge of taking down the chimney so as to take the lintel and the hoops on the chaffery and the 2 fineries excepted.

Agreed upon this 15th August 1672