The Chain Bridge Forge in Spalding combines past and present for a great day out

The past has a tendency to help in the writing of the present. In our area, few places epitomise that like the Chain Bridge Forge.

This Spalding forge looks as though it’s been copied and pasted straight from a town history book, and it’s all the better for it.

While it is still open as a fully-functioning blacksmiths, taster sessions are available as well. I went to one of these a few weeks ago; it was an intriguing experience and one I would certainly recommend.

Geoff Taylor (74), a director at the forge, loves everything about the place and tries to
ensure any of its guests feel the same.

“What we offer visitors is a unique experience, where they can visit a forge that has origins in the mid-1700s,” he says.

“There aren’t many of those that still exist locally, or even nationally.

“What we’ve done is create a living museum. We’ve tried to preserve the building and the craft of blacksmithing.”

Geoff has worked with the forge since 2011, and hired resident blacksmith Ryan Atkin after spotting him offering tasters at Lincoln Castle. His commitment to the project is clear.

“I’d retired and was looking for a project to get involved in, and this seemed like a good one,” he said.

“It’s a passion. It’s putting something back into the community and creating something different.

“I thought I was just going to be preserving a building and a way of life, but it has become a lot more than that.”

In line with the preservation that Geoff discusses, all the tools used in the forge are the exact same ones our ancestors brandished around 300 years ago.

“There are tongs, hammers, a power hammer, an old saw, there’s drills. There are all sorts of remnants of that era.”

It’s hard to tell if you’d enjoy this kind of activity if you’ve never tried it before. I felt the same before I went along, but part of the fun comes from the people you share the experience with.

“Some of the best events we’ve had have been when groups of friends come along,” Geoff says.

“There’s a competitive element that comes with it, being creative and doing something together. If you do it with your family, you’ll often find that everyone is trying to outdo each other. They’re really fun, those events.”

At the moment, the forge welcomes anyone aged 13 and over to come and try their hand at forging a new skill.

You can book in for half-days or a full day; there are themed events, where you might get the chance to craft a dragon, and you’ll have a good laugh – which is the most important thing.

The past meets the present at Chain Bridge Forge. You can travel between them by paying it a visit.