Rudchester Forge

July 2020

We think the Forge was built as part of the other farm buildings in the 17th or 18th centuries. It appears to have had a window on to the road, a doorway through to the adjacent derelict buildings, and been attached to other buildings on its West side, as shown by the wall with two different widths.

We don't know what use these buildings were put to in the past - but a farm this size would have had a blacksmith. You can still see a fireplace in the derelict buildings suggesting that they were used for seasonal farm workers. More recently the main building was used as a garage and storage for an oil tank.

Rudchester Forge early 20th Century

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Early 20th Century

This aerial photograph, which we think is from the early 20th Century, you can see The Forge. The adjacent buidings have slate roofs and a chimney, which have been lost over the years.

Rudchester Forge from the air

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2020

This is a similar angle in June 2020 The main change is the loss of the slate roofs from the now-derelict buildings and teh demolition of the end building to widen the drive entrance in the 1990s.

Forge 2020

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2020

This is the Forge from above in June 2020.

We have applied for planning permission to convert these buildings into a 1-bedroom house.