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Our Beginning 2016

Max, our founder, was never comfortable in world of mass produced goods and cheap throw away items. Instead he was drawn to vintage and interesting retro designs. Very soon he began to create his own unique collection. 

He had just begun studying for a degree in business and now  seemed like the perfect time to start selling his wares. That would put his newly acquired knowledge into practice and may even earn a little to offset his university fees.

To this end he began by setting up stalls at few small country fetes and fairs.
2017 First Market
2017

After an encouraging year Max felt confident enough to begin extending his range. 

He started by adding to his collection of retro metal handicrafts. Since many of these  attractive items were made from cast iron he decided to call himself ‘The Iron Man’. 

His new trading name was to prove almost as memorable as the goods themselves. 

He spent the summer exhibiting at shows and fetes all over the country. 

 
 
2018

Now he had two positive years experience Max could see there was clearly a demand for his collectibles.

His customers had an appreciation for traditional quality and simple design. 

So when an old horse trailer came up for sale Max was keen to purchase it. Once refurbished it would make a suitably vintage and stylish way to showcase his growing range of retro goods. 

 

2019

By summer the horse trailer was transformed.

It really looked the part and was ready to be towed to larger fairs and county shows all over the country.

Max was overwhelmed by the response he received. He even won first prize for best display stand at the Surrey County Show.

After completing University Max set out explore India and the Far East. His motorcycle enabled him to venture off the beaten track to remote towns and villages. 

Along his way he visits variety of street markets and small enterprising workshops, allowing him to see up close, the many everyday metal items.

The designs are attractive. The hand forging remarkable, the strength and solidity of iron and steel goods clearly durable and built to last. 
 
It was quite an inspiration.
 
Travelling in 2019
2020

Covid takes hold. So when Max gets back to the UK he finds all shows and fairs have been cancelled. Most people stay at home now because of lock down. Max is busy in the early stages of setting up website for his new company which he aptly names ‘Forge & Foundry’. 

It is to specialise in retro cast iron and metalware goods for the home and garden. Designs are to be attractive and well made. They must all have plenty of character and above all, they must age well and be made to last.

Once our website was ready it was full steam ahead for Forge & Foundry.

 We first went live in 2021 and the response has been overwhelmingly positive ever since. It seems the demand for retro cast iron and metal artefacts is still growing. Not only here in the UK but also in countries all over the world. 

This has encouraged us to develop and expand our range of traditional and vintage homeware. It has also given us the confidence to add a few unusual and even quirky designs too. 

With every passing year we continue to evolve. Not only by adding attractive new designs but by faithfully reproducing old ones too. We constantly explore new recycled materials, new crafts and techniques in order to achieve this goal. 

Our emphasis on quality, integrity and long lasting appeal will always be of key importance..

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