Metal working

Alfred Powell, the architect and decorator of ceramics, put Gimson in touch with the young blacksmith, Alfred Bucknell. In about 1902 he asked the William Bucknell, blacksmith and wood worker in the village of Water Lane, to make some hinges for his house. The Job was done by his son, Alfred. Gimson saw the finished results and was so impressed that he gave him some designs to make up. He set up a smithy in Sapperton itself and employed Alfred Bucknell together with Steven Mustoe, another trained blacksmith. A succession of local apprentices was taken on: Fred Messenger, Fritz Whiting, and Harry Gardiner. Two other names, Poulton and Holmes, appear briefly in Gimson’s job book. They worked mainly in steel, iron, and brass; the occasional silver handles for decorative pieces were made to Gimson’s design by the silversmith and jeweller, John Paul Cooper.

Ironwork including firedogs, sconces and candlesticks were exhibited at Debenham and Freebody’s in 1907. Gimson wrote to Philip Webb describing the work:

 

In about 1913 the smithy at Sapperton was closed when the village hall was built on the site. Alfred Bucknell continued working for Gimson from Water Lane with Mustoe and later with his son, Norman. Norman Bucknell made fine metalwork to Gimson’s and Norman Jewson’s designs from his workshop in Bisley, Gloucestershire until the 1980s.