Basil Brooke (metallurgist) facts for kids
Sir Basil Brooke (born 1576, died 1646) was an important English expert in making metals. He was also a recusant, which meant he was a Roman Catholic who did not attend Church of England services.
He inherited a large estate called Madeley Manor in Madeley, Shropshire from his father. This estate had iron and steel factories, plus coal mines. The coal mines were already active in his father's time. Coal from these mines was sent by boat along the River Severn to towns and cities from Shrewsbury to Gloucester.
Sir Basil Brooke: Iron and Steel Maker
Around 1615, Sir Basil became interested in a special way to make steel. This method was called the cementation process. It involved heating iron with charcoal to make it stronger. This led him to build steel factories in Coalbrookdale. These factories were definitely working by the 1640s, and possibly as early as 1615.
The special permission, called a patent, that he had for making steel said that no steel should be brought into England from other countries. However, Sir Basil could not make enough steel to meet everyone's needs. Because of this, he had to give up his patent. But he still kept making steel, probably using iron from the Forest of Dean. Later, people found out that this iron wasn't the very best material for steel.
In 1615, Sir Basil and another person, Richard Chaldecott, took over two large furnaces and a forge (a place where metal is shaped) from the king's ironworks in the Forest of Dean. But in 1618, they were accused of cutting down trees illegally. Their agreement to run the works was stopped.
Later, Sir Basil, along with George Mynne and Thomas Hackett, leased all of the king's metalworks. This included four furnaces and three forges. But in 1633, new complaints were made. People said that the ironworks were causing a lot of damage to the Forest of Dean. By then, they had built one or two more forges near the forest. Their lease was stopped again. After an investigation, Sir Basil and his partners faced difficulties and lost their right to operate the works. The works were then given to other people.
Sir Basil also likely had ironworks on his own land in Shropshire, at Madeley. There was an old forge there a long time ago, but it's not known how long it was used. However, it's very likely that there were forges there during his time. He definitely had ironworks somewhere in Shropshire in 1622. This included Bromleys Forge near the mouth of the River Perry. He and his partners were also involved in Shelsley Forge in Shelsley Walsh.
Brooke, Mynne, and Hackett also managed the wire-making factories of the Company of Mineral and Battery Works in Tintern, Monmouthshire, starting around 1627. Sir Basil continued to manage these until his property was taken during the English Civil War.
Sir Basil Brooke: A Leading Catholic
Sir Basil Brooke was also one of the most important Roman Catholics in England during his time. People said he had direct contact with King James I and King Charles I.
In 1635, he supported Catholic priests against the rules of the Church of England. He was in charge of collecting money from English Catholics. This money was used to help pay for the Bishops' Wars in 1639–40. In 1641, he was called to appear before the House of Commons. He tried to escape but was arrested in York and put in prison in London.
Brooke's Plot and the Civil War
In late 1643, Sir Basil was involved in a plan to cause disagreements between Parliament and the City of London leaders. The goal was to stop the Scottish army from joining the English Civil War. His letters were found, and on January 6, 1644, he was put in prison again.
His estate was taken by the government in 1645 because he was a Catholic who supported the king's side during the war. He passed away on December 31, 1646. He left behind debts of £10,000, but his estate was worth £300 each year. His wife was Etheldreda Brudenell. His son, Thomas, later got his estate back, and it stayed in the family for many generations.
