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The forge in Woodbastwick has been in disrepair
for years and it wasn't until recently that engineer
Michael Harvey decided to renovate it.
When Michael was made redundant from his job several
years ago, he decided to have a change in life direction.
His son Greig had just started an apprenticeship
as a blacksmith and farrier and as Michael had always had an interest
in blacksmithing, he decided to take up the challenge of restoring
the old forge in Woodbastwick.
The project has been a great labour of love for
Michael and Greig. Although it has proved expensive, seeing the
restored forge has more than made up for the cost.
Michael said, "We've had to replace a great
part of the roof, there was even ivy growing in the fireplace, but
it's great to see it looking as good as it has in about a hundred
years."
Michael and his son spent months clearing the forge
of ivy and blackberries before they were able to call in the builders
for restoration work. The forge was finally
opened in 1993 after nine months of building work and preparations.
Michael's new role in life is based on a passion
he developed as a hobby in his back garden. He
said of his work:
"It does take a long time and bit of concentration.
Nothing's difficult if you do it enough, but they do take a little
bit of getting used to and getting to grips. It took me a long time
to get up to this standard, a lot patience and a bit of swearing
on the quiet," he added.
Greig hard at work making a horse shoe |
Michael's makes includes fashioning weather veins,
pokers, church clock faces, gates and even crooks for the Bishop
of Norwich and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury.
While he is working on garden furniture, his son
Greig is out and about shoeing horses. Greig can be found in the
forge every Monday making horse shoes for the week ahead using a
technique that's changed little over the years.
Greig said, "The basics
of it remain the same, going back to the Romans who developed the
idea of putting iron shoes on horses."
"Certain modern techniques have come in including
plastic shoes which are glued to the foot, but 95% are still shod
in the conventional method of steel shoes nailed to the horses foot
with slight variations of methods and techniques," he added.
Many centuries ago, the blacksmith's forge was
at the heart of village life, not only providing horse shoes but
tools used by the carpenters, thatchers and housewives. In
some cultures today the skill is still greatly revered.
Greig puts a shoe on a horse |
Michael said "I think in some of the African countries
they regard the blacksmith as something of a wizard, he can join
two pieces of metal together just by putting them in the fire -
that must be magic."
Normally Greig goes out to the horses but local
woman Julie Edmonds had to make an emergency visit to the forge
when the horse she was looking after lost a shoe.
Greig said of replacing the horse shoe, "Knocks
and lumps are a daily occurrence. I had a nasty knock to the head
which put me out of action for a day, and bites as well - it's a
risky game!"
"His mother reckoned the kick in the head did
him good!" laughed Michael.
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