The Forge, Faygate

My grandfather, John Mitchell, owned the village blacksmiths, it had been in the Mitchell family for three generations. Granddad ran the forge with his sons Frank and John jnr, later John jnr left to do other things. Uncle Frank and Granddad continued and as shoeing became less needed they branched out into other forms of metalwork, designing and making ornamental gates that won John many an award. Granddad was also a lay Methodist preacher who cycled to surrounding villages to deliver the Sunday sermon. He was also a renowned judge at Shire horse shows. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on the horses while they were being shoed. I would spend my holidays staying with my grandparents, John and Fanny Mitchell, at 5 Cottages, Faygate. Wendy Soall, nee Mitchell.