BLOOM

An iron ingot or billet formed from a hammer shaped bloom of probable Early Medieval - early Post Medieval date (AD 550-1550). The ingot is broadly rectangular in plan and triangular in cross section. It has an uneven surface patina and the surviving surface has a series of oval scars, most likely from the spalling of surface corrosion. One end has a flattened and polished removal where the surface had been tested by the finder with an angle grinder. This test suggested that it was formed from wrought iron. Where this test has been undertaken a series of shallow cracks extend in the surface of the metal - it is likely that if the ingot is dropped then these cracks may cause areas to be lost. The ingot is a mid grey brown colour with distinct areas of dull red colour. A direct local parallel has not been found, but it is most likely to date from the later medieval period (AD 1200-1450).

The area in which it was found, on the slopes of Titterstone Clee Hill, is well know for its industrial heritage and mining, the discovery of this artefact suggests that this may well extend into the Medieval period and the area has a high potential for producing other similar artefacts in the future. Blair (2001: 181-184) notes that: "the spongy iron bloom produced in direct process furnaces needed to be consolidated into a useful billet or bar iron before a smith could fashion an implement. Bloom consolidation is a time-consuming and wasteful process. A full day's work by a smith was needed to consolidate 2kg of bloom into billet. Up to half the weight of the bloom was lost in the consolidation process" The shaped bloom / billet measures 156mm length, 64mm width and is 58mm high at its mid point; it weighs 1573 grams.

Reference:

Blair, Carl (2001) 'Ironworking' in Crabtree P.J. (Ed.) Medieval Archaeology; an encyclopaedia New York pp 181-184.