The Smithy and the Forge

The Anvil

Iron heated in the forge fire could be beaten to whatever shape was needed using either the flat "face" or the round, pointed "beak" of the anvil.  This anvil is mounted on a thick slice of wood to bring it to a convenient height for work.

Reuben McCormack 

Reuben was the smith at Penruddock Forge and shod Dalemain's ponies and horses for many years until the mid-1970s.

Reuben donated all his equipment to the Museum when he was stricken with illness in the 1970s. The anvil and the flexible but tough pigskin apron were essential parts of his equipment.

The Apron

The apron protects the smith's legs from the heat of the forge fire, the hot metal, and the sparks from the forging activity; it can also protect him from the nail ends sticking up from the horse's hoof, if the horse pulls sharply away in the middle of shoeing. Some smiths cut fringes in the edge of the leather to make a brush that will not burn, for keeping their anvil face clean.

For Reuben it was a symbol of his work. It is still flexible after 20 years on display.