ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the impact of metallurgy of iron and steel on the geography of the industry in United Kingdom. It considers the stagnation of the iron and steel industry in the later years of the nineteenth century. The chapter explains that coke-smelting began to replace charcoal in the second half of the eighteenth century, and the introduction of puddling further emphasized the importance of the coal-field of the Birmingham plateau. Ore was found more widely than charcoal, and it might be said that smelting was concentrated in ore-bearing areas which still could provide scope for charcoal-burning. Steel-making was first introduced in the Scunthorpe area in northern Lincolnshire, and here three large, integrated works have been established. In the later years of the nineteenth century the British iron and steel industry ceased to expand at its earlier rate of growth and its competitive position began to weaken.
