Washington, The Village c.1955

Photo ref: W242005

My dad, Arthur Nesbitt, used to work at the co-op with the horses when he was around 14 or 15 and used to take his horse, Bobby, to the blacksmith at-the smithy. He often said he used to run from Spout Lane with the horse to the smithy and quite often the horse used to turn and bite him, seemingly Bobby was difficult sometimes. He loved working with the horses but as he got older, after doing national service in the R A F, he turned to driving wagons which he did for around 45 years.

Born in 1943 and living in 'Washington Station' (now Columbia). I remember watching horses being shod here many times, when I was a child. I still remember the fierce heat from the furnace, with the Blacksmith and the horses wringing wet with sweat.