Staff Profiles

The blacksmith craft almost went out of existence during the 1970’s & 1980’s due to the increasing use of fabrication techniques; this was further exacerbated by the loss of vast areas of industry (mining, shipbuilding etc) which employed large numbers of industrial blacksmiths. Therefore, there was little formal training and qualifications available for this type of work, most training therefore was undertaken ‘on the job’. This situation has now improved and more blacksmiths are now coming out from training schools as the craft is now going through a renaissance. All our smiths have or are undertaking the blacksmithing or forge work courses at Hereford (often both), however there is still a large element of gaining on the job experience, particularly in the area of refurbishment which is not covered to any extent by current courses. Here at Chris Topp & Co, we are generally viewed as experts in this area and regularly receive requests from blacksmiths to spend time at our works to learn traditional techniques. To this end, in 2001-2, we have had a postgraduate student in conservation from the USA on a six week placement, and more recently blacksmiths from the Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand & Denmark for work placements. We are in the eighth year of one year secondments of metalworkers from the French Craftsman’s Guild ‘Compagnon Du Devoir’. The placements from the Compagnon are all experienced & highly skilled metalworkers before their placement with us, undertaking a seven year apprenticeship & they are generally either in their last year of training or have finished their apprenticeship & come here to learn traditional forge work skills which have been largely lost in France.

We also give regular lectures to post graduate students in Conservation at a number of universities & conservation bodies. We currently contributed to a training video in ironwork conservation for European Blacksmiths being filmed in Norway.  The company was awarded The Industrial Diploma of Excellence – Company Award from The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in 2001. and again in 2009. This award is the highest award available for blacksmithing companies where more than smith is involved in the design and construction of ironwork. We were also the winners in November 2003 of Copper in Architecture – John Smith Award for Craftsmanship. In 2007 we helped Carhart Mansion in New York to win a coveted Architectural Excellence award in producing the ironwork frontage and gates to their new landmark building on Carnegie Hill.  The New York Sun described it as ‘quite simply one of the best new buildings in Manhattan in the last half century’ which enhances the heritage landscape of this historic area of New York. In 2008 and 2009 several awards have been one for various projects we have been involved in – Royal Victoria Gardens Bath, St Pauls Cathedral London and local craftsmanship events for the skills our craftsmen have.