Thread: Charnley Forest hone?

I found this:

All my father's men used the "Charnley Forest", a natural British stone
resembling slate, and I have vivid memories of the incessant rubbing that
was necessary before a keen edge on the tool could be obtained on them.
They varied slightly in quality, but even the very best were dreadfully
slow; and all demanded an abnormal amount of labour, to lighten which we
sometimes applied fine emery powder to the surface. This quickened the
process, but left a raw and unsatisfactory edge to the tool. Recourse to
the grindstone was had [sic] immediately the sharpening bevel became wide.
In the year 1889 the "Washita," an imported stone, appeared on the English
market, and was hailed with delight by all woodworkers , who straightway
discarded their "Charnley Forests" for ever.

Yikes. If a soft Arkansas seems wondrously fast next to this thing, I dunno...