Summary

A smithy, now in use as a storage space, dating from the early- to mid C19.

Description

A former smithy dating from the early- to mid-C19.

MATERIALS: the building is constructed in stone rubble, with cob to the west gable end. The north front facing Fore Street is rendered and painted. The pitched roof is covered in Cornish slate with plain red ridge tiles. As stated in the List entry published in 1988, it had at least one crested ridge tile and a brick end stack in the front roof slope to the right, both now lost.

PLAN: the single-storey building has a rectangular open plan with a central entrance. The location of the former forge is believed to have been to the right of the removed stack.

EXTERIOR: the north front has a plank door to the centre flanked by a C19 part shuttered window on the left and a C19 single-light casement to the right. The west gable end has small C19 four-light casement window, set off-centre to the right. The rear elevation could not be seen.

INTERIOR: the building has a C19 timber coupled rafter roof. Its ridge piece appears to have been replaced.

History

The smithy on Fore Street, as indicated by the 1841 Tithe Map and Apportionment for St Teath, appears to have formed part of a group of buildings facing Fore Street, with a yard to the rear. At that time these were owned by WC Hockin and occupied by a number of tenants. By 1906, as recorded in Kelly's Directory of Cornwall, they were owned / used by Mrs Sarah Hockin, a farmer from nearby Trewennen.

By 1841, St Teath had a commercial blacksmith, William Henry Hicks, who was still trading in 1906. His smithy stood just 25m to the south-west of the smithy on Fore Street, now known as Forge Cottage (listed at Grade II). By 1906 there was another blacksmith in the village, Thomas Auger, but it is not known where he had his premises.

Reasons for Listing

The smithy 5 metres east of Church View, Fore Street, St Teath, Cornwall, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural interest: as a good example of small early- to mid-C19 smithy displaying good quality architectural detailing.
* Historic Interest: as an interesting and poignant reminder of the important role of small metal industry within rural communities.
* Intactness: the building has survived mostly intact.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26613061

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)