WESTPOINT FORGE

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THE GUILD OF WROUGHT IRONWORK CRAFTSMEN

OF WESSEX

BLACKSMITHS AND METALWORKERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWEST

The Guild was originally founded in the sixties as a result of a number of west country blacksmiths holding an exhibition at the builders centre in London, From that exhibition an enquiry was received for 8 pairs of large gates for a cemetery in Virginia falls, Washington USA. AS this was too large a project for the person dealing with the enquiry, frank day who toured the country on behalf of the Council for small industries in rural areas was tasked to coordinate the project. As COSIRA was a government sponsored department, they could not become financially involved, and so the Guild of Wrought Ironwork Craftsmen of Wessex was formed, with two main objectives. To promote blacksmithing, and to provide and maintain training in the traditional blacksmithing skills. With a view to this rather than Frank travelling to all the forges concerned it was thought to be more advantageous to hold training courses on Friday Saturday and Sunday, and because Frank was based near Taunton and was friendly with the then head of Cannington College, the facilities at the collage were used. As the facilities at the college deteriorated, over a number of years, the many members thought it would be good idea to have premises to be used solely by the Guild. This obviously had many implications, the main one being the financial commitment. Funds were built up over a long term with a view to this

In 1998, at Westpoint Showground, a number of local blacksmiths, some of them Guild members, had the opportunity to build a permanent forge at their own expense, with a deal of cheek and a lot of goodwill, a new Blacksmiths Association ( Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of south West) was formed to do this.

With very limited funds, a sponsored building was erected, forges were made and the materials and facilities to make them were donated, a forge being thrown out from a college was brought down and refurbished by a member, a local chimneys free of charge. They now had permanent base, and a basic building.

The Devon Agricultural Association who own Westpoint granted a thirty year licence from the year 2000 to the BMASW for the use of the building free of charge, with the proviso that they had to organise and man the Metalwork feature at the Devon County show. Should they fail to do so for two consecutive years then the licence would be revoked. This was obviously a very good deal.

Meanwhile the Guild's facilities that were used at Cannington had deteriorated and seemed to have no fixed future there, and it was also costing money as a hire fee had to be paid each time the Guild held courses there.

It therefore seemed a good idea to use the facilities at Westpoint and have a long term future with minimum outlay.

By mutual agreement, the Guild's members voted to move to Westpoint and invest in the facility, and so the move to Westpoint was instigated, the building was completed and the Guild finally moved in at the end of 2004.