A Proposal for Grimsson Forge*.

I would like to build a forge and an associated metalworking area on the tier above where Sui has built his glass works.  This is a project that I would like to undertake in an effort to work with Crossroads and provide crossroads with a facility to teach and allow others to use it.  The following proposal will outline a plan that creates a workable contained community with a small camp site for those operating the forge at the time as well as an area to allow safe viewing for when there are large groups wanting a demonstration.  While most people would be interested in actually participating, there will come a time where public liability for working with red hot metal would require a safe working distance.  This plan provides for that need by providing tiered seating for about 18 – 24 people, as well as the possibility of incorporating a barricade to delineate the safe-zone.

* Yes, if I’m going to build it, I have a big enough ego to want to be able to name it.  Besides Grimsson Forge has a nice ring to it.

The entire area will be developed over a period of 5 years to contain:

• a forge with shelter.
• a demonstration seating area.
• a sunshade above the seating area.
• room to expand the forge shelter.
• a smelting furnace.
• a casting furnace.
• room for a camp-site at the far end.
• landscaping
• period fencing
• trees planted to define the area more.

Forge

The forge itself I intend to make out of a mixture of cinder blocks and natural stone from around the area.  There will be a stone chimney that will extend about a foot above the roof line.  The bellows will be a double action traditional leather sided bellows that hangs from the roof and is operated in one direction by pulling a rope, and the other by the weight of the centre baffle.  It would be nice to be able to obtain/make a period anvil.

Shelter

The Shelter will contain a roof, with a wall to the north and one to the east.  It will not exceed a 10 Square Meter footprint.  The roof will be of slate or a slate like substitute, there will be water collection from the roof to a wooden barrel to be used for quenching hot metal when in use.  Overflow from this barrel will be plumbed to water a line of bushes that will delineate the eastern boundary of the yard.  All obvious modern materials will be covered with either stone, metal or wood in a period looking fashion.

Yard

The surrounding area will be maintained and set-up as a metal working yard with two furnaces set-up, one for smelting and one for casting.  These will be located along the eastern boundary close enough to the forge shelter to make getting to it with hot metal safe, but allowing room for future expansion of the shelter. The south side of the yard will contain a small camp site area for 3 or 4 tents and a central camp fire.  The idea with this is to provide an area for those attending to the forge and furnaces close by in the advent of more festivals and larger camping events happening at Crossroads again.  I plan to widen the tier by cutting into the upper slope more and using the soil to back fill a dry rock retaining wall in the lower slope.  Widening the slop enough to allow a camp fire in the middle of 3 or 4 tents. The planted tree’s in the centre of the yard will be maintained and looked after, hopfully growing into a nice shelter tree’s so that those working in the yard will have some shelter from the full sun during the day.

A Time line of Plans.

This project I am attempting to schedule over the next 5 years.  As of the moment my first priority would be to start work on the forge and shelter, building these up to a workable level.  This would then be followed by the landscaping of the demonstration seating area which would require cutting back to a slighly steeper slope and arranging tiered seating of some sort. After getting the seating area finished I would then like to concentrate on the camping area, followed by the Furnaces and general surrounding area cleanup and maintenance.  By the end of my 5 year plan I hope to have the area developed into a reasonable looking and reasonably well maintained village forge.

Maintenance of surrounds

I would also structure into my responsibility of looking after the allotment and maintenance of the area surrounding the allotment such as part of the garden on the stairs, and the drainage on and around the allotment.

Revision 1. Dated:21-11-2009

Further thought on the design has also lead me to believe that a minor change in the forge and furnaces design could actually allow for a more efficient construction, as well as allowing for a multi-stage construction that would get the forge itself as well as 2 furnace chimney stacks all built first and become operational before the roof and final wall structure are built.

The plan now consists of constructing a T shaped wall with a large open forge on one side, and the enclosed furnaces on the other side. There will be about 2 metres of roof covering the forge side, and a little over a meter of roof protecting the furnaces. This will mean that to protect the entire workshop area from sun wind and rain, a canvas wall can go around the entire 10 Square meter covered area. There will be space between the two funaces to stack cut wood for long term storage between uses and there will be storage are in the forge side for tools and equipment.