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Blacksmith, Little Shelford

Blacksmith’s Corner, Little Shelford

History of the smithy

Fanny Wale wrote in ‘Shelford Parva’ about The Blacksmith’s Corner:

In 1916 Edward Elbourne is the blacksmith who works at the top of High Street, and his mother lives in the house behind the forge, where his father, Charles Elbourne died in 1908, but this photograph which was taken before this date shows him walking down Church Street when he was 68 years of age, accompanied by his little grandson Charlemagne, then 5 years and 8 months old; in 1914 he enlisted to fight the Germans.

The Elbourne Family is amongst the oldest inhabitants of Little Shelford. Their ancestors were here at the same time as the De Frevilles who were Lords of the Manor.

Metal tyre being put on wooden cartwheel, Elborne’s Forge, 1920s (Cambs Collection)

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