Heritage Open Day: Abbott Street Forge demonstrations

Heritage Open Days present a rare opportunity to visit a working Forge, built around 180 years ago. This industrious Forge served the Kingston Lacy estate, Dorset shoeing horses, maintaining agricultural and gardening equipment and manufacturing gates and railings for the wider estate.

Around 1945 the Forge ceased trading and remained closed until 1997 when the National Trust let the Forge to Giles Stuart a budding young Blacksmith. Giles Stuart shall be entering his 25th year of running his business from this building in September 2022.

The building still retains its rustic charm, with beautiful brick hearths, vented roof often found in agricultural and industrial buildings, the windows are made up using overlapping glass. We believe some of this glass probably was salvaged from the glass houses in the Kitchen Gardens at Kingston Lacy. The original Anvils, Leg vices and Swage blocks are used on a regular basis, the rhythmic chime from hammer hitting the anvil often draws interest from walkers passing the Forge.

Much of the Ironwork found on the Kingston Lacy estate has been made within this building by Giles Stuart.

Over the years Giles has supplied several National Trust estates with his work numerous private estates, several local churches including Wimborne Minster and countless private commissions.

During Heritage Open Days Giles shall be demonstrating his skills and also reminiscing about how he became a Blacksmith.