Anson Engine Museum
Demonstration of Bodging and Blacksmith's Forge
By Margaret Hacking
Apr 23, 2008, 16:27

On Saturday 26^th April the Bullock Smithy (a smithy so named after the forerunner to Hazel Grove) and the Bodging Shelter will be fully manned to demonstrate the ancient crafts of forging and bodging.  The Smithy and Bodging Shelter are part of the Craft Centre set up at the Anson Engine Museum on Anson Road, Poynton.

forging the hot iron

The Craft Centre was set up by Peter Wood and other volunteers in a shelter in a clearing by the stream.  It combines a shed that belonged to an old scouting friend of Peter’s and sections of the museums old generator house. The blacksmiths shop has an anvil, forge, furnace and some basic tools.

Whittling and bodging

Peter will be demonstrating Bodging (traditional craft of working with green-wood using portable tools including a pole-lathe).  Rod Ellis, another volunteer, will be working at the forge.    

The Craft Centre also has features the ANSON COLLIERY (a dummy mine to recognise the fact that the museum stands on the site of the old mine shaft).

It is hoped that the demonstrations prove popular and dates have been agreed throughout the season for when the Craft Centre will be operational.  These are:-

Saturday 26^th April

Sunday 18^th May

Saturday 21st June

Sunday 13^th July

Saturday 9^th August

Sunday 14^th September

Saturday 4^th October

Saturday 25^th October

There is no additional fee to visit the Craft Centre, normal museum admission charges apply.

The museum is open 10:00 – 17:00 every Friday, Saturday, Sunday until end October.  Admission is £4.50 Adults, £2.50 children under 14, Free for children under 5 and a family ticket (2+2) £12.00.

Using the large bellows to get the coal hot