the forge
The word "forge" has several associations with Henfield. The old village forge owned by "T. Miles & Son" stands on the lower, east side of the High Street and is now a private house. The modern Miles forge can be seen in Station Road. There are also two conjoined houses at the bottom of the High Street, in Golden Square, called Part Forges and Forges. There is also an Old Forge - once an engineering shop at the bottom of Nep Town Road, now converted to a private house. This page deals with the former forge in the High Street.
HOUSES 13
The Forge 1 & 4: These photographs show the forge after being converted to a house around 2007. The right-hand side of the building has "The Old Bakery" on a sign on the façade, though that building was part of the forge - never a bakery. There was a bakery at Brook House, on the premises of the modern Taste-Deli café, and the business was known as "Top Mussons".
The Forge 2: This black & white photo from the 1990s shows the building when it was still a working forge, run by Tom Miles and by his son Alan Miles - the present smith in Station Road. On Saturday mornings, villagers would take their saws and lawn mower blades for sharpening - to be collected later in the week.
The Forge 3: Another photo of the working forge from around 2005. The conversion was partial, with the residential part in the back and a small shop in the front selling small metal goods.
SHOPS 11
The Forge: This black & white photo of the forge was taken in 1965. In 1901, the smith at the forge was John Brazier, aged 44, who lived there with his family.
SHOPS 32
The Forge: A photo of the forge c1906. The people in the photo are: J White (the Bell licensee), John Brazier and “Tuby” Hulkham.
HOUSES 13
The Forge 1 & 4: These photographs show the forge after being converted to a house around 2007. The right-hand side of the building has "The Old Bakery" on a sign on the façade, though that building was part of the forge - never a bakery. There was a bakery at Brook House, on the premises of the modern Taste-Deli café, and the business was known as "Top Mussons".
The Forge 2: This black & white photo from the 1990s shows the building when it was still a working forge, run by Tom Miles and by his son Alan Miles - the present smith in Station Road. On Saturday mornings, villagers would take their saws and lawn mower blades for sharpening - to be collected later in the week.
The Forge 3: Another photo of the working forge from around 2005. The conversion was partial, with the residential part in the back and a small shop in the front selling small metal goods.
SHOPS 11
The Forge: This black & white photo of the forge was taken in 1965. In 1901, the smith at the forge was John Brazier, aged 44, who lived there with his family.
SHOPS 32
The Forge: A photo of the forge c1906. The people in the photo are: J White (the Bell licensee), John Brazier and “Tuby” Hulkham.