How the Materials Compare When Choosing the Right Curtain Pole
Curtain poles might seem like a small detail, but the material you choose has a big impact on the look, feel, and longevity of your window dressing. Wood brings warmth, metals add polish, and plastic keeps things simple, but if you’re searching for something that pairs lasting strength with refined design, our hand-forged wrought iron poles are in a class of their own. Crafted in Suffolk using solid iron bought from a local supplier, they’re built for a lifetime of use. Below, we break down how each material performs in terms of style, care, and durability, and why wrought iron remains a favourite for those who value both craftsmanship and character.
[ read more... ]
40 Best Artisans Awards 2025 with Country Living & Dame Emma Bridgewater
Last week, Richard was named by Country Living magazine as one of their 40 Best Artisans, an honour that celebrates not only his craft, but the values at the heart of our workshop: care, integrity, quality, and a love of making things that last. We’re especially delighted that eight of the selected artisans, including Richard, will receive personal mentoring from Dame Emma Bridgewater, a creative powerhouse and one of the most influential makers of our time.
[ read more... ]
The Made by the Forge Story
It all began when a qualified farrier, Richard, who spent his days at the anvil, met a dedicated horse‐enthusiast. Sparks quite literally flew in that smoky, low-ceilinged forge – and in three years they were married. Living in a tiny Suffolk cottage called Highview, with two children and a workshop that was essentially a garden shed lit by a single bulb, they discovered something profound: their shared ambition to forge their own independent future.
[ read more... ]
Nigel Tyas Ironwork Marks 25 Years of Hand-Forged Excellence
Today marks the 25th anniversary of Nigel Tyas Ironwork, a standout name in British wrought iron lighting, curtain poles, and homeware. Over the past two decades, the brand has grown from a small workshop into a national symbol of craftsmanship, trusted for its timeless designs and dedication to quality.
[ read more... ]
British Made Lighting Using Craftsmanship Without Compromise
British made lighting handmade by skilled blacksmiths. In a world of mass production, Nigel Tyas stands apart. Our handcrafted lighting represents the very best of British design and craftsmanship. Every piece celebrates the skill of our makers and the integrity of our materials, designed, forged, and finished by hand, right here in Britain.
[ read more... ]
Welcome to the new Forge Journal
As Nigel Tyas Ironwork begins a new chapter under Made by the Forge we remain dedicated to handcrafted ironwork, timeless design, and thoughtful production.
This is where we share what’s going on behind the scenes — stories from the forge, updates from the workshop, and glimpses into the craftsmanship behind our lighting, curtain poles, and fittings.
We’re not quite ready to open the order books yet, but we’re working hard behind the scenes — and this is where we’ll keep you in the loop.
Sign up below to hear when the forge is ready to receive orders.
Bespoke Wall And Pendant Lighting For A Holiday Cottage Renovation
A long standing customer of the business, Yorkshire Premium cottages, once again entrusted Nigel Tyas Ironwork to create a unique piece for the latest project. This former weavers cottage was fully refurbished in an extensive project that sees an outbuilding linked the main social hub of the house by a subterranean tunnel, lit by our Stocksmoor wall lights when the night comes and the large ceiling light no longer shines through into the hallway. Architectural success, blending new and old forms of the property and finishing to a very high standard throughout make this a gorgeous place for a family retreat and more details can be found on their website at https://www.yorkshirepremiumcottages.co.uk/
[ read more... ]
Suspended Prismatic Kitchen Globe Pendants
Check out these 5 prismatic globe pendants suspended from our forged steel ceiling plate over a gorgeous kitchen island. Thanks to Sandra for sharing. Holmfirth pendant light with Small Clear Globe shade. Our simplest pendant fitting with a range of shades, each comes with ceiling and gallery fittings and a silk braided cable.
[ read more... ]
Designer Lighting In A New Build Property
This stunning new build property echoes the plushest of New York homes so you’d be forgiven for not believing it’s tucked away in a Scottish suburb.
[ read more... ]
Bespoke Wavy Springvale Pendant Light
When a client requests something really interesting, we struggle to say no. Always up for a challenge here at the forge, a project we completed a few years ago for a customer who wanted a variation on our Springvale pendant light. This 'wavy' pendant was bespoke to allow the hand blown glass shades to sit over a large dining table in this beautiful property with high ceilings throughout. We made a number of pieces for the customer and it's always good working with people with a creative vision and trust in the process to come up with something unique.
[ read more... ]
A Traditional Shepherd Crook For This Modern Farmhouse
When Jeff and Layla first met us at Penistone Show they were impressed by our range of lighting and wanted us to create a chandelier for the entrance to the redeveloped farmhouse they were working on.
[ read more... ]
Bespoke Bay Window Pole For This Incredible Renovation
Our team of blacksmiths at Nigel Tyas Ironwork are skilled in the art of metalwork. Carefully rolling tubular steel to a constant radius to create this incredible bay window pole for a London apartment.
[ read more... ]
The Hathersage 3-light Forged Steel & Glass Pendant Light
Introducing the handmade forged steel and crystal glass pendant light featuring a cascade of hand blown glass shades suspended from a hand forged ceiling rose. The Hathersage 3-light is the latest collaborative piece between the Nigel Tyas Blacksmiths and renowned glassmaker, Lumsdale Glass of Matlock.
[ read more... ]
The Oxspring Table Lamp - A Collaboration With Ceramic Artist, Sarah Jones-Morris
Each month throughout the year, we want to give a deeper dive into our product range and showcase the skills and stories behind our designs.
[ read more... ]
Season's Greetings From Nigel Tyas
Our last working day before Christmas will be Friday 22nd December 2023, reopening on Tuesday 2nd January 2024. We would like to thank everyone involved with our company including our employees, customers, suppliers and people who have been involved in projects and related activities. We look forward to working with you in 2024.
[ read more... ]
Broadstone Pendant Lighting - Standard Or Bespoke? You Decide!
The Broadstone is a range of ceiling or pendant lighting. A series of glass globes, suspended from a forged steel ceiling rose by twisted fabric cable and held by UK made brass fititings. As standard the range offers 3, 5 and 7 light versions on our website but we are flexible enough to offer bespoke versions of this type of lighting.
[ read more... ]
Customer Pendant Light Installation Featured In Stunning Location
Last month we took our friend of the forge, Adam Galliford Photography, to visit a customer who recently installed a bespoke Broadstone 7 light in this stunning home.
[ read more... ]
Horseshoes for Halloween
Social media is a funny thing - we often wonder what will get noticed, what will people like to see. We've always tried to share the story of how and why we do what we do - behind the scenes of our little blacksmithing set up, hand forging designer lighting a homeware just for you.
[ read more... ]
The Hepworth Range - timeless design
For almost 20 years the Hepworth table lamp and standard lamp have been a staple in the range here at the forge. Nigel created this elegant, simple piece to show what true quality meant and with a sturdy, hand forged base and slender stem this lamp will suit many homes and acts as a classic, timeless piece that will last a lifetime.
[ read more... ]
One Of Our Classics: A Newly Installed Hartcliff Chandelier
Our thanks to Hannah from Orpington for sharing these images of her newly installed Hartcliff chandelier. The Hartcliff is both a traditional design that works well in a variety of properties but also contemporary enough to work with a variety of modern interior design colour schemes and we think Hannah has nailed it here in this lovely dining room.
[ read more... ]