Spalding's Chain Bridge Forge has been turned into a model by Hornby

A well-known building has been shrunk down into model form and is being sold by popular railway model brand Hornby to accompany its set layouts.

A mini replica of the Chain Bridge Forge smithy and workshop, High Street, in Spalding, which dates back to the 1700s, has been added to Hornby’s Skaledale range.

Its hand-painted resin buildings are made in 1/76 (00) scale and are intended for use alongside its model railways and track layouts.

The Old Smithy, measuring 18.1cm long, is listed on the brand’s website – priced £30.75 – complete with a painted brick detail finish and is virtually identical to the real thing – except for the colour of its window frames and the orientation of a sign.

Simon Kohler, Hornby marketing and product development director, said the company continually likes to refresh its range of buildings, which includes houses, churches and shops plus domestic and railway structures.

He added: “It must be three years ago that I said we ought to have a smithy, as most country towns and villages always had one in times gone by.

“I used to walk past one on my way to school back in the early 1960s in Louth. A quick search on the internet came up with the smithy in Spalding, so that provided us with the inspiration for the model. Growing up in the county myself I was particularly keen to promote a Lincolnshire building!

“By the very nature and being practical, the Skaledale model is not an exact replica, but is pretty close, and one that seems to be popular.”

Geoff Taylor, a director of the Friends of Chain Bridge Forge, is delighted to see the building realised in miniature form.

He added: “Apart from a couple of minor details, the colour of the window frames and the fact the sign is flat rather than sticking out an angle, it’s a very good likeness.

“It’s a really good model, and lovely to see the forge immortalised in this way.”

* Go to uk.hornby.com/products/the-old-smithy-r7264