The Master Blacksmith

ABOUT Stokes of England

Stokes of England is a general blacksmith shop making hand-forged iron, bronze, and copper work for residential and commercial applications. Founded in 1981 in Charlottesville, Va., his commissions include hand forging all the iron and bronze work for the Atlantis Resorts in Bahamas and Dubai; Charlottesville’s Albemarle House; and residences of royal families in Great Britain, Qatar, and Oman. At Stokes of England’s showroom in Gordonsville, Va., people can buy furniture, lighting, hardware, and traditionally made wooden doors with iron strap hinges and hand-forged locks.

Apprentices will learn basic blacksmithing techniques in forging iron, bronze, and copper. After initial training in safety precautions—including how to start, maintain, and manage a coal forge—they will learn how to draw down, upset, punch, forge, weld, and rivet. Apprentices will also learn how to paint, varnish, or oil finish a completed item.

Skillsets include: Basic blacksmithing techniques in forging iron, bronze, and copper · How to draw down, upset, punch, forge, weld, and rivet · How to paint, varnish or oil finish a completed item

Prerequisites: Artistic · Able to do math · Able to read a tape measure