blacksmith

Artisan who works with iron by forging and welding. Until cars and tractors replaced horses and carts, the blacksmith was a vital member of the rural community.

Apart from shoeing horses (farriery), a blacksmith's work included the maintenance of wagons, carriages, and farm equipment, and the manufacture of articles for domestic and agricultural use. Modern blacksmiths benefit from the popularity of horse riding, and have also turned to making decorative objects in wrought iron.