Conversion of Forge, Cambridgeshire

This early nineteenth century village forge and wheelwright's workshop survived in disused outbuildings attached to the blacksmith's cottage, which later became the village post office before becoming a private house.

After Robin Kent Architecture and Conservation carried out a condition report for the purchaser of the cottage, the consultancy was commissioned to convert the forge into a spacious new living room. The new accommodation retains most of the existing timbers, though new struts were inserted to support the now-insulated roof and a laminated timber beam added to support the restored loft, with simple square balusters for safety. The doorway to the shoeing shop, now a garage, was preserved, and the wheelwright's great wheel and lathe bench, originally used for turning the wooden bosses in the centre of cart wheels, were kept and refurbished, along with the brick forge hearth which provides a centrepiece for the new room.