Meaning
A craftsman who worked with iron, heating it in a forge and shaping it with hammer and anvil.
Description
Blacksmiths were essential tradespeople in every town and village, producing and repairing iron tools, gates, hinges, ploughs and countless other items. Their most visible work was shoeing horses, though this specialisation was more accurately called farriery. A blacksmith's forge was typically at the heart of a community. The work was physically demanding and required years of skill to master. Many blacksmiths also repaired agricultural machinery and later adapted their skills to work with the new machinery of the industrial age.
Also Known As
Smith, Farrier, Iron Smith
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
- Apprenticeship Records
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