Forge, Rugby Road, Dunchurch
Longfellow Forge, Dunchurch
Warwickshire County Council
The old forge Dunchurch Rugby
George Butler's private collection: his mother's autograph book , drawn by H Bullock 2/1/1949
Description of this historic site
The site of a forge where wrought iron was made during the Post Medieval and Imperial periods. The forge buildings have now been converted in to houses, which are situated on Rugby Road, Dunchurch.
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Notes about this historic site
1 A pair of cottages, formerly the Smithy. They are 17th-18th century, one storey and attic, brick, thatch roof. The west front has two upper wood casement windows cut up into the thatch, two 2 light windows, six panel door, two 3 light windows and a ledged door to the right on the ground floor.
2 This is reputed to be the Smithy and chestnut tree of Longfellow’s poem. The forge is no longer in use, but is inhabited and in good condition.
- For the sources of these notes, see the
- Timetrail record
- produced by the Historic Environment Record.
Comments
The story of Longfellow and the blacksmith’s here is completely wrong, the same story is applied to 100s of similar places including the nearby Church Lawford blacksmith’s shop. The true Longfellow’s shop is in Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass. USA. near Longfellow’s home. It was owned by Dextor Pratt. The chestnut tree in Battle Street was cut down in 1876 and a chair made from the timber was presented to the poet following which he wrote the poem “From My Armchair”. Hope of interest.
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