Arnold and The Village Blacksmith

We may have lost our school, post office, butcher's shop, grocery shop, cobbler and church, but our tiny village still has a pub, a village hall and a blacksmith!



In 1908 a blacksmith fresh out of his apprenticeship set up in business at the far end of the village. Horses from the nearby villages were brought to the premises for shoeing, and the blacksmith would also travel to several other local villages which had small forges. In 1936 they moved the business up to this end of the road. The main business was shoeing horses but they also made and repaired cartwheels in conjunction with the carpenter. I have heard it said that the carpenter also used to make coffins, on the top floor of the black corrugated building. When the coffin was ready to be loaded it would be discreetly loaded down a chute onto the back of a wagon!



During the Second World War the blacksmith was commissioned to provide 1000 shoes for mules.To this day a member of the same family is still active making weather vanes, wrought iron gates and commissioned works.

I like this place for many reasons - including the beautiful worn and weather doors, the quaint roof tiles, the old metal work around the place, the sun-bleached wood and, of course, the sense of continuity.

Of course, on the way home I called in to see Arnold.His sheep friends have been taken away because the farmer doesn't want any more accidents. So poor Arnold is on his own again.

See Bennie having a wash as Arnold prepares to frisk my pockets for some more carrot or apple!

Except, who should I spy there but Bennie, sitting having a lick and a wash near Arnold!I had a chat with John and he said she has been spending time up there recently.I'd like to think she is keeping him company, they certainly seemed very relaxed together.

As I was leaving Bennie was checking out John's workshop

- which pleased him -

apparently he has quite a mouse problem.Not for much longer with Bennie on the job!