York based blacksmith Don Barker has adopted a novel approach when it comes to carrying out his duties as Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.

Don, the first working smith for several generations to be elected to the position of Prime Warden, has to attend many meetings in London and has cruised down to the capital from Doncaster in his narrow boat with wife Barbara.

Blacksmithing runs in the family as Don confirmed: “My grandfather was the village blacksmith in Hutton Buscel following a continuous family tradition of blacksmithing that can be traced back over 300 years”.

“The urge to bash hot metal is in my blood!” exclaimed Don

“My year in office involves attending many appointments in London and we have found a pleasurable way of avoiding a lot of travelling by cruising our narrow boat from Doncaster down to London.

“We are enjoying being “Londoners” on a temporary basis but will not be too sorry to leave the bright lights behind and head north again,” added Don

Born and raised in Scarborough, Don left home aged 16 to take up a five year engineering apprenticeship in Manchester. Blacksmithing was a paying hobby for Don but it soon became his full time occupation.

Don’s York-based forge has carried out many prestigious commissions including restoration and new work at Westminster Abbey.

Don was commissioned to create two new Gothic style lanterns which now grace the State Entrance to the Abbey and to restore the railings and create a new matching section.  He was also commissioned to create a new public entrance on the North side of the Abbey including oak doors with bronze handles, an internal lobby and cash desks so that an admission charge could be introduced and the numbers of visitors entering the Abbey could be monitored and controlled to comply with fire regulations.

He also produced new flambeau style lighting for the OBE Chapel at St Paul’s Cathedral.

His work can be seen in many cathedrals and churches throughout Britain and his services are frequently sought by the National Trust, English Heritage, Historic Scotland and CADW in Wales.  A recent commission was for the four bronze lanterns which light the new monument to the Queen Mother on The Mall in London.  The lanterns are over five feet tall and stand on fifteen foot high columns.

Don’s forge also produced over seventy metres of bronze handrails for the steps and walkways which surround the monument.

“Every single one had to be made to measure,” says Don “but it’s all in a day’s work for us.”

In 2009 Don featured in the BBC2 series “Mastercrafts” presented by Monty Don where he had to teach three complete novices the basics of blacksmithing in six weeks.  “It was exhausting but great fun and very satisfying.  One of my students enjoyed it so much he went on to attend college and has become a fully qualified blacksmith” explained Don.

Another TV appearance for Don was a program with Tommy Walsh in which Tommy tries his hand at forging a railing top for some new railings at Harewood House.  He then helps Don to install them using molten lead.

“This is the traditional way of installing railings,” Don explains, adding “We have epoxy resins we can use today but for important heritage sites we prefer to use the old traditional techniques.”

The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths is one of London’s ancient Livery Companies being number 40 in the order of precedence.  Originally formed in the thirteenth century to monitor and control the activities of blacksmiths working within the “Square Mile”, it has not only survived for over seven hundred years but extended its influence to the whole of Great Britain.

For more information about the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths visit www.blacksmithscompany.org.uk or for Don Barker’s website www.theblacksmiths.co.uk.