k
k
k
k
k
ka
a
a
a
k
w
w
This is my grandfather Frederick William Height – Billy – a quiet man, a strong man. I remember watching him fearlessly place a huge shire horse’s leg between his own, hammering a still red hot iron shoe onto the beast's massive hoof. I was six and he was a hero.
What he made with a straight iron bar, a fire, an anvil, and a hammer was impossible – but he did it anyway. He made the alter gates for the tiny church in the Lincolnshire village where he lived – not many people knew about it – he was a quiet man. He drank a scotch most evenings, liked football, ate apple with his cheese - and that’s about all I know about him. Like I said, he was a quiet man. He was a master blacksmith, as was his father and his father before him. My father is a trained agricultural engineer – which is another name for a blacksmith really.
Sometimes I dream that I’m a blacksmith – followed my ancestor’s lead. I make wrought iron and copper weather vanes, lightening rods, gates, candle stands – all manner of objects – but it is the vanes and rods that are my speciality. In my dreams every one is unique and glows with an almost-life. They are mystical and magical, some are encrusted with coloured glass gems and others steel folded seashells - copper leaves, iron birds, silver kisses - all welded to the twisted, burnished steel stems that are my work and passion.
North, south, east, west – bent and straight and true - they are all beautiful.
In my dreams the weather vanes tame the winds and the lightening rods control the storm. They stand upright and waiting in my red-glowed forge, giving me purpose and hope – a direction to my life – and the people travel from all over to see them - bankers, fishermen, gypsies, farmers, violinists. Sometimes I sell, other times I give away – it depends on who my work chooses, and their need. They are marvellous and a marvel – they are my magic – my life is a carnival.
My family are blacksmiths.
And I’m not - except in dreams.
Sometimes I dream that I’m a blacksmith – followed my ancestor’s lead. I make wrought iron and copper weather vanes, lightening rods, gates, candle stands – all manner of objects – but it is the vanes and rods that are my speciality. In my dreams every one is unique and glows with an almost-life. They are mystical and magical, some are encrusted with coloured glass gems and others steel folded seashells - copper leaves, iron birds, silver kisses - all welded to the twisted, burnished steel stems that are my work and passion.
North, south, east, west – bent and straight and true - they are all beautiful.
In my dreams the weather vanes tame the winds and the lightening rods control the storm. They stand upright and waiting in my red-glowed forge, giving me purpose and hope – a direction to my life – and the people travel from all over to see them - bankers, fishermen, gypsies, farmers, violinists. Sometimes I sell, other times I give away – it depends on who my work chooses, and their need. They are marvellous and a marvel – they are my magic – my life is a carnival.
My family are blacksmiths.
And I’m not - except in dreams.
that was a beautiful piece. My forebears were farmers, thatchers, labourers and shoe & boot makers. My only link is that I love gardening and shoes!
ReplyDeleteBMD
I should so be a blackmith dad, family trade and all that! OhMyGoshhh how much does he look like grandad? xx
ReplyDeleteAs he is your grandfather then you are my second cousin once removed. W J Height is my father's cousin. Dad has just died and I found a poor black and white copy of this picture in his papers. I would really appreciate a good copy of the picture. William Hite.
ReplyDeleteSorry, typo, F J W Height. His father, William, of Halton, was my grandfather Percy's elder brother.
Delete