My dad lived at number 2 Portman Park for a few years from 1926, but I don't recollect him mentioning the Blacksmith, I will try to remember to ask my uncle, now 93, if he remembers it.
There was a blackmith at 1 Portman Park which is today known as 'The Cottage in the 1880's. The blacksmith was George Coules. Apparently, the smithy moved to where the World of Pots is and on the former diary. A shoeing smith was still there in 1929 but it seems that by the start of WW2 this had closed. How long the smithy was there after 1929 is unknown. It would be really interesting to know from your uncle if he remembers anything, although I do recall a relation of mine mentioning playing with hoops made by a blacksmith in that area, but according to the census in 1881 there were 5 forges in Tonbridge and 30 men working as blacksmiths. That's hard to imagine now.
My dad lived at number 2 Portman Park for a few years from 1926, but I don't recollect him mentioning the Blacksmith, I will try to remember to ask my uncle, now 93, if he remembers it.
ReplyDeleteThere was a blackmith at 1 Portman Park which is today known as 'The Cottage in the 1880's. The blacksmith was George Coules. Apparently, the smithy moved to where the World of Pots is and on the former diary. A shoeing smith was still there in 1929 but it seems that by the start of WW2 this had closed. How long the smithy was there after 1929 is unknown. It would be really interesting to know from your uncle if he remembers anything, although I do recall a relation of mine mentioning playing with hoops made by a blacksmith in that area, but according to the census in 1881 there were 5 forges in Tonbridge and 30 men working as blacksmiths. That's hard to imagine now.
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