Smithy Close To South End Of Barn At Herd Farm

This building is a smithy located at the south end of the barn at Herd Farm, likely dating from around 1760 with later alterations. It was constructed for Robert Midgley, who was the steward of the Cookridge Hall estate. The smithy is made of coursed squared gritstone and has a stone slate roof. It is a single-storey structure with two bays, featuring quoins. There is a doorway on the right and a square window in the center, while the front wall has been rebuilt. A stone stack is located at the left end.

Inside, the blacksmith's hearth is intact and built against the south gable, along with an anvil, shelving, and tools. This smithy is a rare survival of an important part of a large farm, serving as the forge where tools and equipment were made and repaired, often by an itinerant blacksmith. It is part of a well-documented group of farm buildings, including Herd Farmhouse.