Chain Bridge Forge director Geoff Taylor celebrates ten year anniversary in Spalding

A town forge continues to thrive as staff celebrate a milestone anniversary.

Spalding’s Chain Bridge Forge, which has always been a fully operating blacksmiths, is marking ten years since being taken on by Geoff Taylor - who helped to transform it into a museum.

Now thriving by offering workshops delivered by resident blacksmith Ryan Atkin, the team continues to produce high quality work.

Recently, that has included constructing a new set of gates for Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens.

Mr Taylor, a director at the forge on High Street, says he always expected it to thrive despite it sometimes being a ‘challenge’.

“I think it’s the skill of our blacksmith. He provides a fantastic service,” he said.

“The building is unique in the area, and there’s lots of fond memories of Geoff Dodd - who was the last blacksmith.

“We provide something which is very unique.”

Chain Bridge Forge was sold to South Holland District Council after Mr Dodd retired.

After a period of inactivity, Mr Taylor persuaded councillors to let him have a crack at rejuvenating it.

Now, after a decade of success, he continues to look to the future - and at fresh ways of attracting visitors.

“We’re always looking to improve our offering, and we’re continually trying to come up with new ways of doing it,” he said.

“We would like to develop and expand the amount of space we have for blacksmithing, but that’s difficult in the confined area that we’ve got.

“The short term is about wondering what’s going to happen to our economy, but hopefully if the economy continues to grow, we will continue to grow.”

Mr Taylor has urged anybody with blacksmithing needs to contact the forge, as he and Mr Atkin continue to look for jobs in the area.