This is old Wealden iron country, recalled by the cast iron memorial slab in the church, to John Bottinge, dated 1622. This was a time when the area was producing guns for the Army and Navy, as well as domestic and agricultural ware. Cowden had its own blast furnace "Kitford Mead" Blast furnace keepers abode, was built in 1573, it has the only remains exterior combing decoration left in the south of England, from 1573 until sometime in the 18th century. The rumoured second 'upper' Cowden Furnace is now known to have been Scarlets Furnace nearby is on the Kent side of the stream and the three counties actually meet between old Basings house and Smithers Farm.