Hazel Moore and Les Withers came together as partners and built up a small successful business in 1994, which had initially been established by Hazel. They created quality hand forged ironwork from their rural forge at Kington Langley, near Chippenham, just off junction 17 of the M4 motorway.
Since her husband's retirement due to ill health, then finding herself a widow, Hazel has continued to successfully run the business undertaking commissions that best suit her talent, skills and wealth of knowledge.
With commissions from both private and public sector, the work undertaken by Hazel is varied. Tailored to the site, or to the clients brief, her designs take inspiration from the natural world to create free flowing pieces and from her depth of understanding for more traditional work.
For the house: forged pieces include curtain poles, coat rails, fire-side tools, baskets, screens, lights (free-standing, table, wall or ceiling), door furniture, door knockers and hinges, mantel or wall clocks etc.
For outdoors: Hazel undertakes commissions for small gates and railings, organic style arches and hand rails, garden sculptures, supports and features, lamps, bird feeders, house signs and numbers, wall art and weathervanes. Naturally, other commissions are also considered. Just call for a friendly discussion about your requirements. Repairs and refurbishments are undertaken too; she is always delighted to bring broken or damaged objects back to life!
Not all commissions are contemporary: many jobs have to fit into listed buildings or conservation areas. She draws on her vast experience of traditional blacksmithing skills, knowledge of styles and period design with these assignments. As a registered contractor to The National Trust, she has been privilaged to work on the overthrow and gates at Avebury Manor, Avebury, and was commissioned to produce a replica gate for Westwood Manor, near Bradford-On-Avon. Hazel also worked alongside her husband on the restoration of an Edwardian greenhouse at Norton, near Hullavington.
Whether contempory or traditional, Hazel undertakes her work with passion and pride, forging it to the highest standards. This has been acknowledged by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, London, who awarded both her and her late husband Certificates of Merit in 2000. Hazel was more recently awarded a Diploma of Merit, making her an 'Associate of The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths' (AWCB) in October 2017.
