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.

With no customers, no website, and no money, Richard and Juliet nonetheless had creativity and drive. Their small kitchen became a testing ground: hanging iron racks, hooks and rails crowded the walls, transforming the space. From this humble start, bespoke curtain poles followed, and their love of interiors and beautifully crafted objects took root.

Their first real breakthrough came when a vet visiting the cottage noticed their curtain poles and asked, “Can you make some of these for my cottage?” That first order ignited the venture. Richard shoe-ing horses by day and forging ironwork by night, they committed to creating the best ironwork on the planet.

Working from a converted shed at a local farm, word of mouth and a DIY website breathed life into the business. A pivotal moment came in a London pub, where a group of designers agreed to work with them: The Forge Project brought designers up to Suffolk to experience the forge firsthand, each creating a light-fixture prototype in exchange for shared profits if the designs were developed. From there, they landed a stand at a London design event – and though their first outing left them penniless (and even the prototype stolen!), it pointed them to a higher stage.

Three months after the “robbed” lamp incident in London, they received a call from Heal’s chairman Will Hobhouse, who had seen their work. He commissioned a range of lights for the Tottenham Court Road store, designed and made in partnership with designer Anthony Dickens. The “Farrier’s Cage” chandeliers became a proud milestone.

Despite the glamour of that exposure, the forge day-in, day-out remained grounded: leather aprons, blistered hands, sparks flying. They chose to stay 100 % British-made, but rising imports forced a strategic shift: from lighting (fiercely competitive) back to their core strength—world-class interior ironwork for the home, crafted with integrity.

Their early promise included a pledge: plant a tree for every order received. At this writing, over 17,000 trees have been planted, marking growth both literal and metaphorical. With a larger workshop came broader possibilities: from bathrooms and kitchens to curtain poles, finials and brackets designed by Chris Eckersley and others.

Their mission endures: the work they forge now will be enjoyed in homes for lifetimes. They invite like-minded customers to join their journey—because this story is not just about the makers, but the homes they help transform.

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