The Old Forge

The Old Forge is a house in a terrace located on East Street in Corfe Castle. It dates from the late 15th century and originally had an open-hall form. The building was altered in the late 16th to early 17th century with the addition of stacks and a first floor. The right end was converted into a forge in the 19th century. The structure features rubble stone walls and a stone slate roof, with a stone stack at the left end and another near the center. It is one storey with an attic. The 18th-century raised panel door leads into the forge. The ground floor has two casement windows, one with glazing bars and the other with lead lights. The attic includes two hipped dormers with glazing bars. Inside, two raised cruck trusses can be seen, one with curved braces and king-posts above the collars, both showing signs of being smoke-blackened. The two ground floor rooms have ceiling beams, and the forge retains its original hearth.