Smithy at Forge Cottage

The Smithy at Forge Cottage is a large single-room structure believed to have been established by Dick Williams around 1875 for the Stackpole Estate. It is located to the north of Forge Cottage. Several of Williams' sons likely trained as blacksmiths here, with one opening a smithy in Cheriton.

The smithy features two blacksmith's hearths that share a west gable chimney. The exterior is partially rough-cast rendered, matching the house, while the far side and rear are made of plain rubble masonry. It has a four-bay roof covered with slate and equipped with ridge-vents, along with a short brick chimney. The internal structure includes trusses with tiebeams and collar beams. There are small windows on the north and east sides, with workbenches at the sills, and the floor is cobbled. A large entrance doorway, originally open, is located at the southeast corner facing the house.

The northern hearth appears to be the older of the two and includes bellows and a tuyere, though the supporting frame for the bellows is missing. The southern hearth is set at an angle and features an unusual brick arched flue leading into the chimney. There is an elm block set in the floor for a missing anvil on the left, with broken bellows and tuyere at the rear, and a broken stone bosh on the right. Both hearths are still filled with breeze, and there are bars and racks for tools on the walls.

In the garden in front of the house, there is a circular cast-iron plate with a central hole, which was used to support wheels for banding. The Smithy is listed as a good example of a village smithy with two nearly complete hearths.