Welcome to

The Historical Metallurgy Society

Historical Metallurgy is now on-line

  • online at HMSjournal.org

  • All Historical Metallurgy content is free to access online

  • Historical Metallurgy has no publication fees for authors

  • Printed copies of Historical Metallurgy are also in full colour

Historical Metallurgy relaunched as a platinum open access journal in January 2022. This means the journal is free to access and free to publish in. Although anyone can now access Historical Metallurgy for free, it is now clear that readers and authors are continuing to subscribe to the society. HMS membership is a declaration of support for open access and free-publication by a non-commercial organisation. Historical Metallurgy  is positioned to be the premier outlet for research in any branch of historical- or archaeometallurgy.

The Historical Metallurgy Society is offering new membership bands to accompany the digital journal, to encourage the global community of historical metallurgists to take a stake in the success of the innovative venture. The new platform will achieve rapid publication of the work of researchers from around the world, whilst maintaining the Society’s long-standing reputation for high-quality publication and robust peer review.

HMS is a dynamic and exciting international forum for the exchange of information and research in historical metallurgy. For over fifty years we have covered all aspects of the history of metals and associated materials from prehistory to the present. Our members’ interests range from processes and production through to technology and economics, in a range of specialisms including historical research,  archaeology and conservation.

Research and Publications

Provide a forum for the exchange of information and research of our historical metallurgy, through our publications

Guidance

Through our collection of datasheets and links to other resources

Networking and Education

Hold regular conferences showcasing the latest research and providing networking opportunities

Conservation

Provide guidance and advice on the protection for our historical metallurgical heritage

Grants and Donations

Through our HMS awards grants for activities that further the aims of the Society.

Resources and Collections

Provides physical and digital access to our library, collections and archive resources

Links to our latest

HMS networking weekend, Sheffield, 3rd. and 4th. June 2023. Register for this free event using the HMS shop. You can access this from the tab at the top of the home page of this website.

The date for the 2023 Research in Progress event has been set for Saturday 22 April

Click here for Research in Progress 2023 meeting details

The 109th  HMS Crucible is now available online here.

Welcome to the HMS website!

We continue to update our new website. The aim is to produce an easy to use website, with new features and content. We are always keen to improve so if you can’t find anything or hit any snags please let us know here.

Some members have had problems renewing their membership online, for which we apologise.

Note for people registered on the old website.

The accounts from the old website have now been transferred across, so when renewing your membership you can do it on-line.  Members may need to ask the system for a password reset (or indeed a password for the first time). The system should recognise the email address that the Society holds. If not please email HMS from here.

This also applies to members who may have inadvertently allowed their membership to lapse. (The new website will offer you an opportunity to pay arrears of subscriptions.)

Latest Journal

Latest Journal available for purchase

  • Read more

    Historical Metallurgy Vol. 41.2

    £10.00

What does everyone miss about “face to face” conferences?  It’s not so much the papers, it’s the connections we make!

 

HMS networking weekend, Sheffield, 3rd. and 4th. June 2023. Register for this free event using the HMS shop. You can access this from the tab at the top of the home page of this website.

 

For further details, click here.

The Research in Progress event for 2023 has been arranged for April 22nd. 

 Click here for Research in Progress 2023 meeting details

About HMS

The Historical Metallurgy Society provides a forum for the exchange of information and research in historical metallurgy. It aims to gain recognition for the subject from the community at large and to be consulted when issues of preservation and recording arise.

Conservation

Provide guidance and advice on the protection for our historical metallurgical heritage

Research

Provide a forum for the exchange of information and research of our historical metallurgy, through our publications

Networking and Education

Hold regular conferences showcasing the latest research and providing networking opportunities

Support and assistance

Through our collection of datasheets, library and archive resources and our grants for research and travel

The Legal Stuff

The Historical Metallurgy Society Ltd is a Company limited by Guarantee (No 01442508) and a registered charity (No. 279314) Our registered office address is Linden House, Eridge Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8HH.

The Articles and Memorandum of the Society can be downloaded here or are available on request from the Honorary General Secretary. Email: secretary@historicalmetallurgy.org

Any personal data collected by the society is used purely to provide the services of the society. We do not share data with outside sources for advertising purposes.

HMS Council

HMS council meets twice a year, in the Spring and Autumn, to discuss the business and general running of the society. We are keen to welcome new members to council from the full spectrum of interests that the society currently serves

Meet your council

HMS Chair

Paul Rondelez

He obtained his thesis on Iron Age and Roman iron smelting in Belgium and his PhD degree based on research into late medieval iron production in Ireland.

Paul has a life-long interest in mining and metal production through his father's mineral collecting hobby. He obtained his Master's Degree in Archaeology at Ghent University (Belgium) with a thesis on Iron Age and Roman iron smelting in Belgium and his PhD degree based on research into late medieval iron production in Ireland. His interests also include non-ferrous metal mining in Ireland and the Irish charcoal-fired blast furnace.
Hon. Secretary of HMS and Chair, Archives and Collections Committee

Vanessa Cheel

Applies metallography, optical and electron microscopy to a variety of archaeological metals.

Vanessa studied Engineering and Materials Sciences at first degree level and has a doctorate in Metallurgy & the Science of Materials which involved using light, x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons and electrons to investigate copper. Since the techniques were mastered, they’ve been applied to a variety of archaeological metals. Metallography, optical and electron microscopy are current pursuits. Small scale experimental metal working takes place in the back garden.

Her academic interests in Materials Characterisation have been blended with education and public outreach; committee experience was gained on the local Parish Council.

HMS President

Tim Young

Works as a consultant to supply specialist archaeometallurgical services and analyses in the UK and Ireland.

HMS Treasurer

Jonathan Prus

His principal interests are the unresolved aspects of bloomery technology, especially relating to draught, furnace thermal properties and slag chemistry.

Born 1950. In teaching for 10 years. Subsequently ran a company providing learning disability services. First degrees in History and Politics, then Life Sciences. Then Ph.D. at Cranfield University. Then an MBA. (The last three by part-time study.)

A member of HMS Council since 2014 and Hon. Gen. Secretary since 2017. An active member of the Wealden Iron Research Group.

Principal interests: unresolved aspects of bloomery technology, especially relating to draught, furnace thermal properties and slag chemistry. A recently developing interest in the interrelated issues of skill, cognition and ideology among ancient ironworkers.

Chair, Outreach and Value Committee

Eddie Birch

He spent his working life first in steelmaking research and then in aluminium master alloy development before transferring to a role in quality assurance.

Chair, Grants Committee

Tom Birch

Tom Birch works as an archaeometrist for Moesgaard Museum in Denmark, specialising in archaeometallurgy, with research experience in provenancing iron, silver and copper-based metals. He is starting his journey with gold, glass and other materials, as well as detecting activity remains in-situ (soil blocks).

Joint Editor, HMS Journal (Technical)

Thomas Rose

Joint Editor HMS Journal

Justine Bayley

Specialising in non-ferrous metal and glass working, and continues to lecture and research on various aspects of Roman and medieval metalworking.

Justine has been a member of HMS Council since the early 1980s, serving as Treasurer from 1986 to 1991 and as Joint Editor since 1990. For many years she was also a member (later chairman) of the Archaeology Committee. She led the Technology Team at the Ancient Monuments Laboratory, which became part of English Heritage/Historic England, specialising in non-ferrous metal and glass working, and ran many ‘slag days’ that offered field archaeologists hands-on training in identifying metalworking debris. She is now an Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL and continues to lecture and research on various aspects of Roman and medieval metalworking.
Events Officer

William Hawkes

Is a professional conservator and trained jeweller, who has worked on very wide and varied projects, from Roman jewellery to napoleonic field carriage guns.

William Hawkes is a professional conservator and trained jeweller. His conservation practice has encompassed a wide array of work on very wide and varied projects ranging from Roman and Anglo Saxon stone-set jewellery in both precious and copper alloy metals to napoleonic field carriage guns and a D-20 howitzer from the first gulf war. Additionally, Bill regularly provides consultation services to various organisations in relation to researching historic objects and their metallurgy, providing reports for the purposes of preventative and remedial conservation.
Editor of The Crucible

Jack Cranfield

David Cranstone

Peter King

Is a historian who has recently published a book on the British Iron Industry 1490-1815.

Gill Juleff

Her primary research interest is in the early ferrous metallurgy of Asia involving fieldwork in Sri Lanka, India and China.

Gill Juleff has been a member of HMS for many years. Gill first served on Council in the late 1990s and was Chair for a term. In recent years Gill returned to the Council and took over as joint editor of the Crucible in 2017. Gill’s primary research interest is in the early ferrous metallurgy of Asia involving fieldwork in Sri Lanka, India and China. Gill teaches at Exeter University and has supervised a wide range of archaeometallurgy PhD projects.

Mike Charlton