* the following information comes mainly from secondary sources so may not be correct

Abinger Iron Forge was built in the mid 16^th century on the site of an existing watermill by the Edmund Bray, Lord of the Manor of Shere. His tenant was Richard Elrington. The forge was supplied with iron sows from the Brays furnace at Vachery in Cranliegh. In 1557 Owen Bray sold the forge to Thomas Elrington who was given special exemption from restrictions on fuel-cutting due to the Brays excellent record of timber management and replanting. In 1574 the forge was tenanted by Edward Elrington and by 1579 by Thomas Kelsey. The forge needed large supplies of timber to keep running and this led to the enclosure of New Coppice (some 400 acres) and Heathy Land both parts of the former common of Manwood. In the late 16^th century local tenants, annoyed at this encroachment to their common land, uprooted fences around the New Coppice. They were re-erected by the Lord of the Manor and Court of Chancery eventually found in favour of the forge owner who by that time was Jane Browker (or Brooker). The forge tenant was also entitled to cut 3000 loads per year from the unenclosed common as well as from the coppice.

In the 16^th century it was commonly known as Shere forge because of its connection to the Brays.

By the early 17^th century the forge was owned by Jane's son Thomas Browker (or Brooker). From 1626-1631 Thomas negotiated with John Evelyn of Wotton Place to sell the forge and its woods. Due to the mill not being on a navigable waterway, and fairly inaccessable by land, it was at a disadvantage compared to many of the other forges in the area. Evelyn was therefore able to negotiate the price down from £2200 to £1500. The forge still remained profitable, however, with Francis Pellatt the tenant paying £40 per year rent.

In the 17^th century the forge was known as Paddington forge and the forgemen as 'ironmen of Paddingdoune'.

During the 18^th century the forge became less and less profitable. The rent being reduced to £20 per year. This was the case across the Wealden iron fields due to the diminishing timber stocks and the competition of coke from the Midlands coalfields. In the case of Abinger hammer, however, the new tenant John Dibble was a poor manager. On one occasion his men refused to work for him and his foreman went to work at another forge. Eventually Sir John Evelyn took back the forge from John Dibble but the forge finally ceased working in 1788.

The hammerponds are now used for growing watercress. The only reminder of Abinger Hammer's industrial past is the famous Abinger Hammer clock put up at the end of the 19^th century with its blacksmith or forgeman ringing out the hour.

Although no record of Thomas Penfold at Abinger forge has yet been found it seems likely that he was hammerman there in the 1650's - perhaps foreman or even tenant. This was the period of the Commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell and records are scant. Thomas was certainly good friends with Thomas Brooker of Abinger and Edward Dibble of Shere (overseers of his will) who appear to also be associated with the forge. As already stated Thomas owned land near the forge in Paddington Manor, as did a Mr Brooker, probably Thomas. It seems likely that Thomas P.s friend Thomas Brooker is the same who sold the forge to John Evelyn in 1631. While Edward is probably the father or uncle of John Dibble later tenant of the forge. Interestingly none of Thomas's children married into the Dibble or Brooker families. Sometime before 1680, possibly as early as the 1660's Thomas returned to Worth and is likely to have worked for Leonard Gale at Tinsley Forge. With Thomas's departure to Worth, and certainly with his death in 1680 all Penfold association with Abinger forge ended. Edward Dibble died soon after in 1683. The Penfold interest in Abinger itself ended in 1713 when Stephen Penfold died and his property Highhobbs passed to his kinsman Richard White.

http://www.highweald.org/about/whyoustanding/why_iron.asp

Abinger Iron Forge was built in what is now Abinger Hammer ( then Paddington, Abinger) on the corner of the road to Felday. Its site is now a farm produce shop opposite the post office. Nothing remains of the forge but a small part of the hammer pond remains. A Clock built much later to commemorate the forge, with a forgeman banging an anvil on the quarter hours, is found almost opposite.

It is not to be confuse with Abinger Mill (also known as Elwix) which is further along towards Wotton, nor with Paddington Mill where Paddington Farm now stands. Both these were corn mills.

 Sources: The Tillingbourne River Story - Dr Peter Brandon