I created my forge from scratch. It’s small – a six by six metre breeze-block building – but it’s all I need for now. The landlord didn’t mind when I asked if I could cut a hole in the roof for the chimney. I put in all the racks, shelves and workbenches. One of the good things about this job is that if you haven’t got the right equipment or if a tool breaks, you can make it yourself.
When I was 17, I was in a ska band and the drummer was a blacksmith – that got me interested. I think, I called him every day for three weeks until he agreed to give me a job. I worked for several different blacksmiths in about four years, then at 21 I started my own business working at the Kew Bridge Museum forge. I moved here a couple of years ago. My neighbours on the estate are great. There’s a garage on one side where they look after old E-Type Jaguars, so that’s a source of inspiration, seeing £150,000 worth of classic car cruise past every day.
Every job is different. At the moment, I’m making frames for a mosaic at a local school and I’m about to renovate some 200-year-old hinges for a gatehouse in Piccadilly. Then I’m working with a family who want me to make them a big birdcage.
I’ve also started teaching people how to make things for themselves, such as a fire poker or a coffee table.
I’ve just had a 13-year-old come in for four days as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award. He wanted to make a sword. I had to tell him that we couldn’t make weapons.
People are surprised at how physical the job is. When I told one apprentice to do a bit of weight training before he started, he laughed, but then he was struck by how much lifting there was.
When I started blacksmithing I’d get burned a lot. My hands are scarred but so far I haven’t had any serious accidents this year.
Contact thelondonblacksmith.co.uk for more information.
As told to Rosie Ifould
