Blacksmiths and Farriers photos

In the 1841 census there were three blacksmiths recorded in Selsey; Charles Prior, Charles Voke and Cornelius Steer. In 1904 George Male, from Somerset, took over a forge in West Street. It was known as ‘Sea Star’ due to the sign from a ship wrecked off Selsey which was attached to the building. At the beginning of the C20th century there were about two hundred horses in Selsey, mainly belonging to tradesmen and farmers, so there was plenty of work servicing them. George Male also produced high quality ornamental ironwork, notably the gates at Paisley Cottage and the well covers for Heron Allen’s ‘Large Acres’.

In 1924 George’s oldest son Tom joined the business, followed by another son Courtney two years later. By then there were five blacksmiths recorded in Selsey, including Mr Smart and Charles Wingham who had been operating a forge in the High street, opposite the entrance to West Street, for many years.

The Sea Star forge also looked after the needs of local builders and the gasworks. From the 1930s they were also fitting the ‘new’ iron tyres to carts and wagons.

In 1944 Dave Lawrence joined Males to become a farrier and in 1972 he made the famous gates now hanging at the Selsey Scouts Headquarters in School Lane. They were made out of tools from the old forge as a tribute to Thomas Male.

The Sea Star forge no longer exists but a building of the same name now commemorates the site.

Sources:
‘A History of Selsey’ by Frances Mee
‘The Old Forge’ Selsey Life July 1999