Forge Charles Blacksmith Shop

In 1985, the Charles family donated their family smithy and blacksmith collection to the Museum. A log building was reconstructed within the Innercourt in order to house the collection. It is now known as the ‘Forge Charles Blacksmith Shop”.

Blacksmiths’ shops, until the end of World War II in many areas, had so long been a part of almost every community in the civilized world, that they were more than a necessity; they were a solid link with the past.

Like other craftsmen and artists, the blacksmith was no better than his tools but unlike them, however, he was unique in being able to make his own tools. Old designs were turned into new ones or into new uses. Any well-equipped shop was likely to have a variety of tools. However, the only categories of tools and equipment necessary to the smith through the ages were the forge and bellows, anvil and slack tub, hammer and tongs, swage and cutter, chisel and punch, file and drill. These were the basic categories of equipment. Some of those tools can be seen in the Forge Charles Blacksmith Shop.