Dick Nunn's Smithy

Dick Nunn's Smithy

A former smithy built in the early 19th century, now a Grade II listed building.

The smithy is a single-storey, rectangular-plan building constructed of red brick, generally laid in Flemish bond. The main roof is pitched with pantile covering to its north and south slopes; those on the north slope were replaced following a storm around 1980. The west part of the roof was altered in the late 20th century and is now hipped with a Welsh slate covering. A red brick chimneystack stands at the east end of the north slope; a second chimneystack on the north slope was removed in the late 20th century.

The south elevation has three early 19th-century windows and a contemporary stable door, with two wrought-iron wall ties stabilising the wall beneath the easternmost window. The three windows have timber horizontal sliding sashes, each with three vertical glazing bars containing lapped glazing. The stable door is fitted with two strap hinges to the left side of each of its two doors and a latch to the right side of each door; all door furniture appears to have been manufactured at the smithy in the 19th century. The west end of the south elevation was extended in the late 20th century. The most westerly window was originally located on the west elevation but was relocated to the south elevation in the late 20th century when the south-west corner was squared off and two up-and-over garage doors introduced on the west elevation. The north elevation is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond and retains one early 19th-century ledged-and-braced timber door. The east gable is constructed of red brick, laid in Flemish bond to eaves level and stretcher bond above.

The interior retains the original forge on the east wall, though a second forge towards the centre was removed in the late 20th century, with the scar remaining visible in the roof. The simple roof structure with joists, purlins and collar ties appears to largely survive from the 19th century, save the north slope which has machine-cut common rafters, likely replaced around 1980 following storm damage. The red brick walls have a continuous timber stringcourse onto which instrument holders are attached; these survive either side of the forge on the east wall and on the south wall. The east wall has a central forge with a brick hearth and large hand-operated bellows manufactured by '[HOGERS?] LIMITED / LONDON, S.E.', operated by a lever and counterweight. The floor is partly paved with gault brick and partly bare earth. An anvil positioned to the right of the forge was relocated from another smithy for display purposes. The south wall has a timber work bench in the east corner and two wall-mounted timber drawer units to the right of the stable door. The north wall has a tether ring positioned between the early 19th-century north door and the late 20th-century garage doors.