Smelting Iron in the Ancient Way

Smelting Iron in the Ancient Way

Location: South of the Memorial Church, just east of James Fort’s eastern palisade

Join Master Blacksmiths Shel Browder and Steve Mankowski as they demonstrate the ancient method of smelting iron ore into metallic wrought iron. Our bloomery furnace is set up to reduce the ore with charcoal and forced air to make wrought iron. In the fall of 1607 John Smith famously recorded “Our best commoditie was Yron which we made into little chissels.” This is the method they would have used.

Included with paid admission to the Preservation Virginia portion of Historic Jamestowne.