Rowan Taylor, Blacksmith - South Saxon Forge
Description
Bespoke ironwork from historical recreations and restoration to contemporary artwork. After taking-up blacksmithing as a hobby, I decided I loved the craft enough to make a career out of it.
As such I applied and was given a place at the National School of Blacksmithing in Hereford and came out with various prizes including "Most improved blacksmith", "Best Blacksmith", "Best Student", the FSB "Young Entrepreneur Award" and the "Stanley Allcard Cup" given to me by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths for "outstanding skills in the traditional craft of blacksmithing".
Following this I did a 12 month apprenticeship in heritage ironwork conservation, during which I worked on the restoration of the Tijou Screen at Hampton Court Palace, helped put a spitfire back together at the Imperial War museum, and worked with some of the country's best blacksmiths.
South Saxon Forge is now my full time business as a traditional blacksmith, run from the Canal works yard in Ellesmere, Shropshire.
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For a historical reproduction project I have had to make some small stamps. The original artefact was date stamped as having been made in 1481. Note the funny 4! The stamped metal in the image is just a piece of scrap and the actual object will be stamped tomorrow. Images will be posted once it is finished ;)
New tools
Because I have a constant drive to improve efficiency, I've finally upgraded my anvil and boughts a flypress. The two big anvils which came with the forge have faces like Freddy Krueger so it can be quite tough to lift a smooth and flat forging from them and while I have got by with a small 70kg anvil for a while, I have finally gotten a big old 200kg beast :) It came with some freebies like swages, fullers and scroll formers which is nice. I have also acquired a Denbigh n. 4 flypress which has already been used for straightening some forgings. Big thank you to Lee Webber for the sale :)
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Last week I had Mike over from Australia for a one-day lesson and a couple of days of free-forging. Mike made a rushlight holder and a very good one it was too! Thanks for coming mate, good times were had!
New key for church strongbox
I did a conservation and repair job on a 15th century strongbox some time ago. Part of the job was to make a spare key for the box. I did this using the same techniques used for creating the original, 5 or 6 hundred years ago. The spare key was made with a T handle though I don't seem to have photographed that part of the process.
Making a Jungle Parang
So I made a Parang for a lovely chap called Andy a while back. Now it's been featured on Ray Mear's blog! :D https://blog.raymears.com/2016/08/31/making-a-jungle-parang/
Open weekend at the forge this weekend as part of the Ellesmere Festival. Free boat ride along the canal from Tesco in order to reach the Yard, then just follow the banging sounds and you'll find me!
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New member of staff! This little gas forge which arrived today will save me so much time for making batches of items - hooks, racks, railings.... So many things!
Photos from Rowan Taylor, Blacksmith - South Saxon Forge's post
Doggies :) Two of these chaps are on commission, the other three are going into the shop once they are finished tomorrow.
Trade axe.
This 18th century style trade axe is a prototype made a short while back. The handle comes on and off in order to make it easier to pack down for hiking or reenactement use. Some of it will recognise it from a recent series of videos I produced and which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzoSZZSmHUo&list=PLSIdU5LVae4ZZdeR8hXV0tYOIQMiczgKq
Timeline Photos
Last week, Levi from Montana came over for a few days. He has been hitch-hiking up and down the U.K and staying with different blacksmiths in order to deepen his knowledge of the craft and learn new stuff. Quite brave considering he's only 19.
Photos from Rowan Taylor, Blacksmith - South Saxon Forge's post
It's always lovely when I get sent images of my work being put through its paces! Here are some absolutely gorgeous arrows made by Mark Chien, San Diego, sporting some of my heads!
Rowan Taylor, Blacksmith - South Saxon Forge
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