About

The Forge is one of the most photographed buildings in Britain, and dates back to the fourteenth century, making it a focal point of the Domesday village of Cockington for over seven hundred years. Although no longer producing goods from the furnace for practical and economic reasons, the Forge still manufactures the famous miniature horseshoe, and is open from Easter till Winter.

Now home to a flourishing arts and crafts centre, idyllic tea rooms, and unique gift shops, Cockington is an attraction that is known worldwide, and yet, being situated only a mile from Torquay, it's still an unexpected treat for travellers to stumble across.

The Forge has stood at the heart of the village for centuries, and any visitor can see how it's earned its reputation as being one of the most photographed buildings in the country. Although often cited as being constructed in the 14th century, a forge had been on the site before that. In 1345 a fire destroyed large sections of the building, causing it to be re-built in the style you see today, so it was actually re-constructed in the 14th century. It is thought that Rose Cottage, now a popular tea rooms, was the traditional home of the blacksmith, and was passed on along with the forge. The first records of the forge's blacksmiths start with a Mr Davey in 1615, whose daughter married his apprentice. From there, however, it is difficult to track down any other occupants. We know that the last blacksmith started working at the forge in the late 1940s, and held the position until 1971, when under the economic strain of a steadily decreasing workload, it was forced to close.

Our passion doesn't end with The Forge. We love all of Cockington. And we , and so here's an assortment of bits and pieces that we've dug up. If you know anything we don't, or just fancy a chat about the village and it's history, please pop by (either in person, or via email). We're super friendly.

Our Range - We specialise in horse-brasses and solid brass items, as well as unique Cockington-themed gifts. The Forge is most famous for its miniature horseshoe, which has been produced on-site for over a century. Our range is diverse, and goes from tiny purse pixies to colossal brass giraffes.