ABSTRACT The work involved in producing the Victorian cast-iron pub furniture with which we are so familiar is not often recognised. A leading company in this trade was J.M. Bennett & Sons of Manchester, who gained repute for their ornate cast-iron furniture and fireplaces manufactured in a purpose-built foundry established in c. 1879. The company employed the sand-casting method to create their range of products, which were registered and traded under the acronym ‘BICLAM’ (Bennett’s Iron Company Limited Ardwick Manchester). The company relocated to new premises in 1906 and their Ardwick foundry was cleared shortly afterwards, although its remains were uncovered during an archaeological excavation by Cura Terrae in 2023. This enabled the development and progress of the foundry to be examined through a review of the available documentary sources coupled with archaeological evidence, providing a unique window into the processes involved in manufacturing decorative cast-iron goods in late Victorian Manchester.
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