First of eight student’s joins local company for heritage blacksmith training - Members News - Blogs

First of eight student’s joins local company for heritage blacksmith training

Posted by Chris Topp on 5th July 2011.

Chris Topp & Co Ltd based at Carlton Husthwaite and Tholthorpe in North Yorkshire have their first student working with them, Alexander Coode is one of eight students taking part in The National Heritage Ironwork Group’s (NHIG) Heritage Blacksmiths Bursary training programme. These semi-skilled blacksmiths, six men and two women, will be the first to receive one year of specialised Blacksmith Conservator training as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) ‘Skills for the Future’ programme.

It has long been recognised that our Heritage Ironwork has suffered from a lack of readily available trained and skilled practitioners in conservation practice and although there are several high quality firms specialising in restoration ironwork the size of our ironwork heritage is so vast it means that inappropriate and damaging processes and treatments are being applied countrywide to often unique and irreplaceable artefacts almost on a daily basis.

The NHIG Heritage Blacksmith Bursary has been put in place to address this need by providing the beginnings of a skilled and experienced cohort of practitioners able to not only work on sensitive ironwork artefacts but also work effectively with fellow professionals in the field. It is an advanced training program that broadens the skills and experience of blacksmiths involved in historic ironwork repairs by bringing together the best of blacksmithing craft practise and the philosophy and ethics of conservation.

44 year old bursary student Alexander said; ‘I am passionate about the heritage of ironwork and feel that the protection of antique ironwork is of vital importance for the conservation of heritage sites and am keen to play whatever role is possible in support of this aim. I believe that the completion of the Heritage Blacksmith course would be an invaluable asset in establishing the necessary benchmarks to be followed in undertaking any future restoration project.’

Alex will be at Chris Topp & Co until August, followed by a week at Hereford College before his next placement at the Hereford Museum.

Chris Topp & Co Ltd, founded in 1980 started as blacksmiths, specialising in ancient ironwork, have expanded to become prominent in the world of high quality architectural metalwork.

Find Chris Topp and Co in the Products Directory here...

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