The Forge, Rodmell

The forge at Rodmell was run by James Jeffery, a wheelwright and blacksmith, from at least the 1850s; he died in 1865, aged 68. The business was then run by Edward Jeffery in partnership with Robert Baker. Jeffery and Baker were described as builders, wheelwrights, and blacksm iths in local trade directories. The firm undertook repairs to Rodmell church, and built the lych gate in 1898; entries in the ledgers (AMS 6715/1/1-2) show that they also made coffins. There were also premises at Piddinghoe. Edward Jeffery died in 1902, aged 56, and the business was then carried on by Robert Baker until his death in 1907, aged 73. From 1910, Christopher Dean (1878-1956), who was born in Reading, Berkshire, rented the forge from Robert Baker's daughter, Lydia Anne, who married Jacob Verrall. Dean purchased The Forge House and blacksmith's shop when they was put up for sale after the death of Jacob Verrall in 1919, Lydia Anne Verrall having died in 1912. In 1932 Christopher Dean's son Frank joined the business, which also sold petrol from 1930. Frank ran the business from 1954 when Christopher retired. Frank died in July 2005, and the firm is now (2006) run by his son Roger, who has been working at the forge since 1970.

Donated 24 October 2005 (ACC 9295)

Frank Dean who owned the forge (died Jul 2005) was the donor's father