In a medieval village, every trade played a part in keeping the manor running, but few were as important as the blacksmith. His forge supplied the tools that fed the land and the weapons that defended it. From ploughshares to horseshoes, hinges to spearheads, his work touched every corner of the estate.
The lord depended on the smith as much as the peasantry did. In return for his craft, the smith was often granted a small plot of land or exemption from certain dues. He mended the lord’s armour, shod his horses, and repaired the iron fittings that kept the manor functioning.
The rhythm of the forge echoed through village life... the hammer on the anvil, the glow of the fire, and the smell of iron and charcoal. The blacksmith’s skill tied every part of the feudal system together, a reminder that even power rested on the work of ordinary hands.
