The Mousehole Forge

Written by Richard Postman with John and Julia Hatfield.
Published: 2003, Postma Publishing, Berrien Springs, MI.
ISBN: 0-9663256-1-3.
108 pages spiral bound with many drawings and photographs, including site maps and advertising flyers and brochures.

This books is primarily a history of the Mousehole Forge, located in the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield, England. This forge produced Mousehole anvils from roughly 1790 to 1933. It gives wonderful insight into the trials and tribulations of being an industrial manufacturer in England during that time period; especially problems associated with getting enough water to run your water wheels when the local government wants all the water for municipal use. It is also interesting to see how the forge changed hands during that time period.

Richard Postman (who wrote ANVILS IN AMERICA) recounts his 2 trips to England and the relationship he struck up with John and Julia Hatfield who acquired the property of the Forge and restored much of it. Most of the books is history of the Forge, but there is a short section where he talks about how the manufacture of anvils evolved from a build up that could include as many as 12 individual pieces to the process developed by the Peter Wright company consisting of 2 forged pieces and a top plate.

We tend to think of Mousehole Forge as only a manufacturer of anvils, but the book shows drawings of other products to come out of that forge: blacksmith vices, hammers, stakes, pry-bars, etc. At the end there is a 4 page glossary that will help you understand the terminology used in the old books which talk about early industrial practices, especially those that used water wheels.

-- AlbinDrzewianowski - 31 Jan 2009