Blacksmith Expresses Concern Over Trade’s Future

A blacksmith has voiced apprehension regarding the longevity of his profession, citing a decline in customer purchases of his handcrafted goods. Felix Nelson, 23, who has operated his forge situated near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, for five years, described the recent Christmas period as his most challenging to date. Notably, Storm Darragh led to the cancellation of numerous Christmas events throughout the county. Concurrently, Mr. Nelson observed a trend where consumers increasingly opt for “cheap, imported” items purchased online over “British-made quality steelwork.” He stated, “The appreciation for handmade gifts isn’t as strong as it used to be.” He further added, “People are struggling financially and that doesn’t help either – we all know it’s cheaper to buy stuff online.” Following his training in Hereford, Mr. Nelson established his forge near Bridgnorth at the age of 18, where he creates a diverse range of items, from conventional fire pokers and horseshoes to large sculptures and intricate flowers. Typically, the Christmas season represents a period of robust business for local artisans, with markets and fairs serving as essential components of the festive period. Mr. Nelson remarked, “As traders know, Christmas is the guaranteed income for us – we’ve lost that and December’s been a tricky month.” He continued, “Storm Darragh has really taken a toll, many events were cancelled. We’ve lost four figures due to the [cancellations] and, as Christmas comes, it gets tougher and tougher.” He also observed a decline over the last five years in the number of individuals purchasing local crafts, as consumers increasingly favor ordering from online retailers. He commented, “We’ve become immune to buying things on eBay and buying cheap, imported products when really we should be buying British-made quality steelwork.” Blacksmithing, an ancient craft practiced for centuries, now faces an uncertain future, according to Mr. Nelson. He further stated, “I’d like to be doing it for the rest of my life but financially, is it stable? Definitely not.” He expressed that he “worries about [blacksmithing] dying out,” noting that a reduction in customer numbers exacerbates the situation. Mr. Nelson explained, “Every year we lose blacksmiths due to them going bust and it not financially working for them.” Readers can follow BBC Shropshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and submit story ideas to newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.