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Memories from Washington Village
The Village Smithy (2/2)
WASHINGTON VILLAGE SMITHY
Jim Dobson, Washington Blacksmith - 1960
[ Spout Lane to New Inn Corner and Newcastle - The Avenue to Fatfield Bridge and Houghton-le-Spring ]
Washington Village - The Pottery
[ Following its closure, The Smithy was a Pottery until 1984. It became a Restaurant in 1988. ]
Washington Village - The Blacksmith's Table Restaurant
[ Opened in 1988 ]
Washington Village - The Forge Restaurant
[ Formerly The Blacksmith's Table ]
The Forge Restaurant
[ Note 'The Old Hall Smithy' sign - under the large tree branch. ]
Discovered by Volunteers of the Excellent 'Washington Village In Bloom' Group
[ See Sunderland Echo Article below. ]
The Old Hall Smithy Sign
Volunteers of the Washington Village in Bloom group were helping remove ivy from around
The Forge restaurant building when they discovered a 65-year-old sign for a
former blacksmith’s which stood on the forge site in 1957.
The sign has been hidden in the ivy for years, but now with the help of volunteers and local business Washington Metal Company, it has been fully restored
and placed back outside The Forge.
The Forge is a 400-year-old Grade II-listed building steeped in history and residents believe
the sign was put up by the owner of the blacksmiths to commemorate
his business after it closed down in 1957.
Joan Atkinson, chairwoman of Washington Village in Bloom, said members were thrilled
to make the discovery and see the restoration project come to fruition.
She said: “It’s absolutely important to preserve history like this. The forge is a 400-year-old building and this just adds to it. Washington Village is full of fascinating history.”
After discovering the sign, Washington Metal Company was able to clean it up, repaint it and
give it to the owners of the forge who put it up for customers to see.
Sunderland Echo Article by Sam Johnson
Posted 28th March 2021
EXTRACT FROM OS MAP 1896
[ Note a second Smithy on Spout Lane - East of St. Mary's Church. Sorry, no details on that one. ]