Blacksmithing

We make our living as blacksmiths. One of the ancient crafts, blacksmithing is no longer a common part of everyday experience. Lady Mary Wroth, when she wrote her Urania, published in London in 1621, included the statement:

“Now this Squire was not knowne of many, besides Pamphilia, nor any whit of Antissia, whose jealousie infinitely upon this increased, and the more meanes were sought to alter it, the greater did the heate grow; like a Smith that puts water into his Forge, to make the fire more violently hot.” The First Part of The Countess of Montgomery's Urania, by Lady Mary Wroth, edited by Josephine Roberts (Binghamton, New York), 1995.

The simile could not be used in contemporary fiction — we don’t see smiths at work commonly nor are aware of the processes of their work.

Making a Latch is a description, with photos, of the steps we go through to make a Suffolk Latch.

Making a Hinge is a description, like Making a Latch, that shows the steps we go through to make a Butterfly Hinge.

Making a Grip shows the process for making a Cabinet Grip.

Tools of the Trade shows some of the tools in Molly’s blacksmith shop.

Making a Living describes how we became blacksmiths.

Glossary of Blacksmithing Terms is linked to various words that are not commonly known by non-smiths throughout this section of the site.