I am delighted to have received a letter from The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths confirming the Court of Wardens have approved my application for a Silver Medal this autumn 2025.
The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths came into existence to control the quality of blacksmiths and their ironwork in the City of London and within a four-mile radius. The early Wardens also had to ensure that blacksmiths did not disturb their neighbours with noise and fumes, while also ensuring that apprentices were properly trained and well-treated.
Whilst the Company no longer has the right to take such drastic action against those who under-perform it continues to promote high standards in the craft by rewarding those blacksmiths who produce work of a consistently high quality through the presentation of Company Awards.
The Court of The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, on the advice of the Craft Committee, awards a range of Certificates, Diplomas and Medals. These recognise various degrees of ability and quality of workmanship achievable by training and experience of blacksmiths working as individuals and when working as a team.
Bronze, Silver or Gold Medals entitle the holder to use the qualification FWCB after his name as a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
From the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths website, this is the requirement for a Silver Medal.
The applicant should be a Bronze Medal holder and be able to show that he or she is conversant with and regularly uses all forging techniques and can produce forgings involving intricate design.
He or she should be able to demonstrate their personal contribution to design as well as developing his or her own individual approach.
An applicant for this award is expected to have completed commissions of prestigious importance. It is considered that the range of commissions undertaken should be very broad compared with those for a Diploma or a Bronze Medal, a larger proportion of them being of outstanding quality both private and in the public sector.
Consideration will therefore be given to most (but not necessarily all) of the following attributes:
Design work
A blacksmith should be able to work on his or her own designs which should show flair and imagination as well as technical excellence.
Public works
Great importance will be attached to work that is in the public eye and this must be of an exceptionally high standard.
Restoration
Assessors will be pleased to see samples of outstanding restoration work, particularly that which is of a public nature.
Knowledge
A blacksmith should be able to show that he or she has a good knowledge of the craft and its history.
The applicant must show an up-to-date knowledge of Health and Safety Regulation, workshop management and demonstrate good business practice.
An applicant must supply photographs, which have not been used in a previous application, of his or her work and if satisfactory the work will be examined by two Eminent Master Blacksmiths
If awarded, the blacksmith may use the title of Eminent Master Blacksmith.
I have been encouraged by fellow blacksmiths to submit a portfolio to the Craft and Awards Committee and in Easter this year I did just that.
It has been some years since I was awarded my Bronze and as I put together my portfolio, I realised I have amassed a great selection of commissions in both the public and private sphere. I was awarded the Bronze in 2007 following a portfolio submission and assessment by two wonderful but now no longer with us, blacksmiths, the late Bob Hobbs (Gold) and Alan Evans (Silver).
The Silver medal is a huge step for me and an honour to receive. I wasn’t sure if my work would be ‘blacksmithy enough’ as I think of it, I am not known for traditional motifs or restoration although I have done this work. My style is very much my own and will always be gentle flowing lines and forms with traditional forging techniques at its core.
It is of course a delight to be able to make history, and this is the first time that a father and daughter have held Silver and Gold medals from the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. My father Hector Cole was awarded a Gold medal in 2024
I was trained in my traditional blacksmithing by my father Hector and shared a workshop with him when I first started out. I owe him my thanks for keeping a firm hand on the hammer and bellows while training me!
Hector instilled in me the good practices of traditional craftsmanship, to always look at how to make using traditional forging techniques and to do them to the very best of my ability. While my work doesn’t always require traditional blacksmithing techniques, it is with the first learnt skills of hammer and hand that I start each piece. I will always champion the traditional making techniques while embracing the modern tools that enable me to keep working in current times.
It is with honour that I am involved with The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths on the Craft and Awards Committee. I am not party to any decisions on applications connected with myself of course and the committee is truly diligent and scrupulous in its observance of the Rules Governing Awards. I do however go out and about assessing other blacksmiths for awards and judging blacksmithing competitions at county shows so understand the pressure of assessment.
My role on the committee, alongside assessing portfolios, is to ensure the ‘craft’ is not lost in the mechanics of a livery company and I am pleased to say that our livery company has very strong links with the real craft of being a blacksmith in the current day.
Bursaries are awarded to support students through their training and prize money given out at competitions as well as the coveted awards programme.
For all the people that have commissioned me or purchased items from the forge over the years, it is a marvellous thing to share this news with you.
Your support has helped me to flourish within and be respected by my craft.
Thank you for your support.
