Took the road bike out today which gave me a chance for a more closer look at the villages of Cleveland than I can get from a car. Carlton has a pub and a school but no shop. But what it does have, and perhaps one of the last villages to do so, is a village blacksmith. A place of real character.
Carlton is quite a common village name in the North Riding, there being eight others, so I should use the official name of Carlton-in-Cleveland.
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Robert Ward, is an absolute treasure.
His Blacksmith and fabrication skills are some of the very best available.
Robert has a cast knowledge too of Traction Engines, and associated machinery, and he has built several, Inc. a masterpiece of engineering half size one, as well as a Foden Steam Lorry, a very accurate replica.
I’ve known Robert of around 30 years now, and I used to get him to build me Trolleys for Vintage Stationary Engines, from box section steel- and his work and attention to detail was exemplary.
His firegrates, and fancy wrought iron gates are also quite literally a work of art.
Unfortunately, health taken a turn upon me, and I have moved out of the area now- but I still occasionally phone Robert, and he left me with such great memories- that it would be impossible to ever forget him.
Robert is definately one of the finest Blacksmiths around today, and Cleveland would definately be a lesser place without him.
In a nutshell, he’s worth his weight in Gold.
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