FORGE HOUSE

BLACKSMITH’S AND ALE HOUSE.

   There have been many theories regarding whether or not there was ever a pub in Pegswood. These range from the dismissive to the downright fanciful. Some believe there was a Coaching Inn in Pegswood while others state that the Dukes of Portland would not allow any pubs or alehouses on their land. The latter seem to overlook the fact that there was a pub, The Castle, in nearby Bothal. However, there was also an Alehouse in Pegswood.

   Approaching Pegswood from its eastern, the Bothal side, one of the first buildings encountered, in the early 19^th century, was the village Blacksmith. Certainly one of the first of a line of Blacksmiths was George Gustard. The Blacksmiths shop also served more than one purpose during most of its life and proof of this comes with an application to Morpeth Court for an Alehouse licence by Isabella Gustard, wife of the Blacksmith. More than likely this was a renewal of a licence rather than a new licence in 1823. Isabella Gustard was described as viculater suggesting that she already had a licence. Backing the application was Thomas Jobling a Morpeth shopkeeper. A name, The Three Horse Shoes, was also given for the Alehouse showing its affinity to the smithy. There can no longer be any doubt as to whether Pegswood had or had not a pub.

   It is not clear just how long The Three Horse Shoes remained as an Alehouse in Pegswood. The smithy was to pass through a series of Blacksmiths including George Jordan, recorded as Blacksmith in 1855 and Robert Stirling who was recorded as Blacksmith in both 1881 and 1891. It can also be noted that there was a village shop and a Post Office attached to the smithy at this time. Robert Stirling was Postmaster and his wife ran the shop. This may well have been the former Three Horse Shoes alehouse in another guise. The smithy was to remain in the custody of the Stirling family into the 20^th century. However, the Post Office was to move into the colliery area where it was managed by the Hogg family from their family business in DeWalden Terrace. The Post Office was to remain with the Hogg and later Hunt family until the 1950s when it moved to a purpose built building at the rear of the newsagents on Longhirst Road.

   Today, the old smithy, shorn of its alehouse, Post Office and shop, still stands under the name of Forge House retaining its links with the Pegswood Blacksmith’s of old Pegswood.

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