There is a fine line between being a Blacksmith, Forge, Smithy or Farrier.
The first three are really one of the same dealing mainly with forging and repairing metalwork such as agricultural machinery and shoeing horses. A Farrier dealt specifically with the shoeing of horses.
The Blacksmiths at the Three Horseshoes in the village also served as a "Wheelwright" repairing and constructing new wheels for carts. Various villagers can still remember this work going on, with the Blacksmith fitting new steel rims to wooden cart wheels.

There is mention of various Blacksmiths in the village, but it seems impossible to place some of the names to specific locations.
The facts are these:

Bures Hamlet:-

(a) I think at sometime there may have been a Blacksmiths on "Shop Meadow" (opposite ex Wardens Butchers Shop).
At some undefined date this fell into disrepair and was later replaced by the Blacksmiths in Colchester Road (bottom pic).

(b) 1844, 1874 and 1890, William Dansie - Blacksmith recorded owning Blacksmiths shop in Colchester Road.
Simon Dansie(brother) and George Kendall (nephew) are also recorded in 1861 as all working together on this site.

(c) 1859 & 1895, Mrs Mary Ann Dansie is recorded as owner of Blacksmith shop next to the Eight Bells PH employing 2 men.
Opposite (b). One census records the name as Susan Dansie (widower)?

(d) George Kendall (born 1843) a Blacksmith recorded in 1899, 1902, 1906,1910 and 1912.
He was the nephew of William Dansie working from the Colchester Road premises
George Kendalls daughter Caroline married Henry Lee in 1896 (at Bures Baptist Chapel), after Henry's death around 1918, the whole family moved to Witham where she lived out the rest of her life.
Also on 16th August 1911, Abraham Cansdale of Brentwood married Ethel Mary Kendal at Bures Baptist Chapel witnessed by Henry Lee and George Kendal.

(e) Charles Deaves, Blacksmith recorded in 1917, 1922, and 1929(see photo below). Must have taken over from the George Kendall.
Barry Charles Deaves (son) recorded as Blacksmith in 1937.
Charles Deaves died in 1935 aged 79yrs. Barry Deaves died in 1962 aged 76yrs
Although Barry Deaves was listed as the owner he never actually did any of the manual work. The work was carried out by Charlie Martin and Bill Watson.
Charlie Martin was eventually killed in a road traffic accident on July 9th 1944 with a UK Army lorry. He was looking in the window of Arthur Beamonts radio shop in the High Street, when he stepped back into the road just as a lorry came around the corner. He was fatally wounded by the impact. The lorry driver was only about 20 years old, completely innocent but badly shaken up by the incident.

George (Quark) Baker also worked for Deaves at some time, but it`s not known when.

(f) Bert Cansdale (Rocker) worked for Barry Deaves and was the last Blacksmiths/Farriers in the village until its closure, approx 1954.
Bert was a Farrier in the 1914/18 war with the army.

Blacksmiths Cottage, Colchester Road - 2005	Charles Deaves, Blacksmiths & Farrier circa 1930.
	This photograph clearly shows the Blacksmiths Cottages with the doors of the Blacksmiths Shop shut at the end of the row. The local Gasometer can be seen towering above its roofline
Early 1900 picture taken at the Colchester Rd premises. (Photo courtesy of Peter Richards)	Blacksmith, George Kendall and assistant. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Lee)

Bures St Mary:-

(a) In the census dated 1841, 4 Blacksmiths were recorded this side of the river.
(1) Three Horshoes with Isaac Death
(2) Little Mill with Samuel Death
(3) Nayland Road with John & Samuel Death
(4) Church Lane with James Death

(b) In a census dated 1861, the Death family were still actively trading in Bures St Mary.
(1) Three Horshoes with Isaac Death
(2) High Street near the Baptist Chapel with William Death(Isaacs Son)
(3) High St with John Death
(4) Near Barbers Shop and Grocers(?) with Samuel & George Death(son)

(c) The `Death` family seemed to be prolific around the village, with a long term presence at the Three Horseshoes, see photographs below

The Three HorseShoes Public House - 2005	Blacksmiths circa 1910-30
	Blacksmiths pre 1900
Records indicate the following:- The Three Horseshoes:- the Blacksmiths was run by the family that had the Horseshoes pub, the "Death`s". The first listing appeared in Kelly`s directory of 1844. 1844 records show:- Issac Death - Blacksmith Samuel Death - Beer Retailer & Blacksmith ** 1869/1874 records show John Death - Beer retailer Samuel Death - Blacksmith William Death - Blacksmith Map dated 1898 clearly shows this locations as an "Iron Foundry" The Horseshoes was never listed in any of the county directories as a pub, The "Death" family were always down here as beer retailers. They were listed in the 1933 Kelly`s Directory but not in the 1937 edition. It would be safe to assume that the blacksmiths closed between these two dates. When this closed down, Brands opened up a `Smithy` in "The Croft" ** Samuel had a daughter Elizabeth who married Daniel Claydon in 1823. They moved to Chelsworth where he became the village Blacksmith. He may well have worked for Samuel as an apprentice before getting married.

(c) William Spurgeon a Smithy & Farrier, 1900. Speculation that Spurgeon took over from the "Death" family (see above)

(d) There was also another Blacksmiths along `The Croft` owned by Brand and Sons on the site of premises we now call "Weltevreden".
Shown on village map dated 1904. However, Brands dealt more in agricultural machinery rather than Farrier work.

(e) James Death, 1837, a Blacksmith working along Church Lane beside Quay Cottage leading to the recreation ground.

(f) To the left of the Baptist Church in the late 1800`s, a Blacksmiths and Wheelwright. This was also owned by Brands.

(g) Map dated 1898 clearly shows a "Smithy" at the bottom of Cuckoo Hill.

reviewed 13/02/07
Acknowledgement to:-
Kelly`s Directories
John Parkhouse
Sue Cansdale researcher from Ipswich
Jeremy Lee, direct decendant of George Kendall