Max, our founder, was never comfortable in a world of mass-produced goods and cheap throw-away items, finding himself drawn instead to vintage and interesting retro designs.

Very soon he began to create his own unique collection, and having just begun studying for a degree in business, it seemed like the perfect time to start selling his wares to put his newly acquired knowledge into practice and perhaps earn a little to offset his university fees.

After an encouraging year that began with setting up stalls at a few small country fetes and fairs, Max felt confident enough to begin extending his range 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’—a trading name that would prove almost as memorable as the goods themselves as he spent the summer exhibiting at shows and fetes all over the country.

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.

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 a 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.

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 a 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..

We've been growing our team!

Lucy has joined us to manage customer service, ensuring you always have a friendly face to help with any questions.

Jack has been with us since late 2023, keeping our website and technology running smoothly.

Fred is a long-time member of the team, expertly packing orders for our retail customers. He knows every corner of our warehouse!

In late 2024, we celebrated our first team Christmas meal – a fun way to say thank you to our amazing team!

Another year, another milestone for the team at Forge and Foundry.

2025 was a transformative chapter for us. We focused heavily on expanding our range, redesigning our brand, and—most importantly—migrating our entire experience from WooCommerce to Shopify to better serve our growing community. This transition has allowed us to establish a more robust presence in the market and provide the seamless experience our customers deserve.

We couldn't be happier with the success this year has brought, and as we move through 2026, we are focused on expanding our team to continue bringing you the products you have grown to love.