A TALE OF TWO SMITHS

"Today" refers always to the overhead date of the blog today being Tuesday 3rd June 2025 

I've been happily ensconced for some days now on the Shobnall reach of the Trent and Mersey canal while exploring Burton upon Trent and adjacent towns while an optician makes me a pair of glasses without which I find it a nuisance to function.  This morning I met two lads after me own heart mar a ndheirtear.

Robert and John are smiths with a rolling contract on canals: a very unusual contract where they restore or refurbish cast-iron furnishings with provinence.  Today they were working on the 16/86 mile-mark fornenst my current position.

Avid followers of this blog know I have been mile-marking since the beginning of the year locating and fixing exact positions as I go.  On the Trent and Mersey I have been noting the miles and can report with authority that thus far all are present and correct and I am able to read the data as I sail past.  For me the mrks are navigation aids.

At the risk of descending into moronic boredom I need to define a few terms. A milestone is, as it says, carved out of stone and I have found them here and there along my way.  A mile-mark on the other hand may be made of wood or iron or even be painted on a board.  Almost all the marks identified on the Grand Union and the Leicester Arm and the Soar have been cast from iron and on the Trent and Mersey canal that is also the case.  These T&M one were cast locally in 1805, 35yrs after the canal opened for business. A contract for 100 posts would be a tall order for a struggling smithy but, seriously, was probably the makings of them in 1805. They could borrow serious money on foot of an order like that and fit out their workshop, hire skilled smiths and ancillery staff and buy the raw material for the posts frrom the smelter.

A 'smith' makes things from molten iron in a foundry.  He may also use other metals and alloys of course but I'm specific in my canal interest which also includes aquaducts and bridge trusses.  John and Gordon are masters of this trade and many other associated disciplines.  I discover that they met while at college, both graduated in metals, and together they run a smithy in the West Country to which this hyperlink allows you access. 

Now that you have seen the range of abilities and experiences these two lads have you can understand my admiration for what they do.  I totally align with people who use their brains to work with their hands, something I have done in my life. 

Their contract with the water authority is a rolling one and they work specifically on items of serious historical interest including the Pontcysyllte aquaduct.  And I get to meet them and see them working right outside my boat.