This website created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

The Goddard blacksmith family in 1865.

THREE GENERATIONS AT THE FORGE

Text copyright Valerie Martin 1999

I have found that Frederick Goddard Senior's connection with the Nepcote Lane forge goes back to when he was twelve years old. He was born at Wick and attended Lyminster School. At one time his father forged shoes for the horses of the Duchess of Norfolk. Also for horses belonging to the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) stabled at the old Nepcote Lodge Stables in Steep Lane. What were the royal horses doing in Findon? They were racehorses and being trained over the famous Findon turf when he was a keen race-going Prince. He also shod horses for cavalry units stationed in Findon during the First World War 1914-18.

The young Fred knew what he wanted out of life and went straight from school to work in Findon's then well established forge in Nepcote Lane, owned at this time by Edward John Brown, who was known as "Ted".

By the age of 17, after serving a five-year apprenticeship, he became what is known in the trade as an "improver". It was in the smithy that he shod his first horse for Bob Gore, the famous racehorse trainer from Downs House in Stable Lane who had two Grand National winners with Jerry M and Covertcoat in 1912 and 1913 respectively.

Frederick Goddard Senior and Junior with a trophy they won for their craft.

  


30th July 2004.
 

Looking at the comments on the village blacksmiths, made me recall our old blacky.

Mr. Goddard, he wasn't just the smith he was a man that had time for us kids.   He always had a cheery word for us and would make things for us when he wasn't busy.  Many a child left his forge with a still warm hoop and guide.

Us lads had several rusty bikes rescued from his scrap heap. and put back together by him.  These would be ridden proudly home without any tyres on bare metal wheels.

A hideous noise (wonder what the present day Villagers would make of that).  The village bobby wasn't very keen either, but we usually had the edge on him for speed.

Eventually old dad got me a second hand boys bike complete with dynamo lighting and a bell. everything ok now in the eyes of the local constabulary.  Looking back now, I know which of them I had more fun with.

Bill Day

 

 

Fred Goddard shoeing a horse and being watched by his father. Martin from Muntham is holding the horse, pre 1934.

 

Findon's forge in 1934

 

c. 1936

 

Fred Goddard Senior working in the forge c. 1945.

 

The three Goddards — Frederick Goddard Senior, Dennis Goddard and Frederick Goddard in July 1955.

 

In time Findon had two experienced and well-known blacksmiths, they were Frederick Goddard and his son Dennis who was well known for playing football for the Findon team on the ground at the Cissbury Estate off Nepcote Green. A hardware and lawnmower shop was also run adjoining the forge. A young assistant sometimes accompanied them in the forge in Nepcote Lane. This was Dennis's son, Timothy, who wished to follow in his father's, grandfather's, great grandfather's and great-great grandfather's footsteps. He later served his blacksmith's apprenticeship.

Rex Bradford wrote to me in the autumn of 2004 with his reminiscences of the forge..

 

When I got my first bike I would cycle to Findon to the smithy (I think there was only one then) to watch the smith shoeing the horses.  The smith must have been a very tolerant man because he allowed me to pull the bellows.  I would have been 9 at the time and in order to pull the bellows I had to hang on the lever which meant that the fire would burn very brightly, but then almost go out while I let go to refill the bellows.  This is not the best way for the smith to work, he needs a constant, smooth supply of air to the hearth.

I can remember the rosettes that the smith had won at county shows and the fascination of seeing him create a shoe from a straight length of iron bar (or aluminium for the "racing plates").  I didn't realise at the time that I was witnessing the end of an era, I returned when I was 19 and the smithy had become a place for producing tacky decorative items as opposed to an integral part of country life (in fact, I guess that the "smith" was in fact, a farrier).

Rex  Bradford.

 

 

The forge in the 1950s.

 

The forge from Cross Lane in the 1950s.

 

Pre 1954.... The old Findon Forge on the left..... with Nepcote Lane.    Cross Lane on the right.

 

The Forge c. 1962.

 

1975 — Fred, Dennis and Timothy Goddard at the forge.

 

Fred and Dennis Goddard working outside the forge in 1989.

 

Alterations in the area of the forge in 1990.

 

The owner of the forge site since the 1960s had been Mrs. Beatrice Costello of Findon. By the 1990s the flint building still boasted its blacksmith's interior and had a certain rustic charm in the mainly still unspoilt village of Findon.

In 1997 Mrs. Costello and her son, Charles were given permission to change the use of the premises into a shop and food and drink business. This turned out to be yet another restaurant for Findon. Initially the Parish Council, who feared that the extra parking for traffic involved would cause congestion in Nepcote Lane, opposed the proposals but the application finally went through. 

Charles Costello's John Henry's Café Bar on the site of Findon's forge in March, 1999. 

 

Findon's old forge has now lost all of its old character and is beyond recognition as John Henry's Café Bar. Another village feature has bitten the dust and disappeared to be only remembered in the history of Findon. It is a great shame that a landmark can have caused so much controversy among the villagers.

Continue if you would like to read about The 1960s at The Forge.

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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com