Old Blacksmith's Shop, Horsforth, West Yorkshire
The small building at the end of the row of houses was the blacksmith's workshop. Until the invention of the motor car vehicles and machinery relied on horses and the smithy was a very important part of any town or village. The blacksmith would replace worn horseshoes but also repair farm machinery and make small items from metal. This workshop looks to have been disused when the photograph was taken and provided a useful wall for advertisements. One apprentice from the smithy, who later became the Reverend Samuel Marsden, emigrated to Australia and is famous for having introduced the Merino sheep into the country.
