We feel extremely privileged to have our office in The Forge (official name Oyster Hill Forge) in Headley. I was even more privileged recently to talk to a local man (who used to visit the Blacksmith, Fred Hack) in the 1950s and who gave me a history of this beautiful Grade II listed building.
The Howards of Ashtead
Much of the land and properties in Headley were owned by the Howard family of Ashtead, Lord and Lady of the Manor and direct descendants of Sir Robert Howard (1626-1698).
For the first seven decades of the 19th century, Ashtead remained a predominantly farming community. The manor continued to be owned by members of the Howard family and was inherited by Mary Howard in 1818.
The British Listed Buildings society shows that The Forge was built in the late 18th Century.
Mary’s death in 1877 coincided with a long and severe agricultural depression and the Howard Estate was broken up with much of it being sold.
What became of The Forge
The Forge was sold to a local family in Headley in the late 19th Century who were builders but started renting out the Forge to Blacksmiths.
The last Blacksmiths to work in the Forge were a local company called Bubear and Jones who happened to be a client of Denyer Nevill, the predecessor firm to DNA Accountants.
In 2012, Meadowcroft properties bought The Forge and did a massive refurbishment to the building resulting in the gorgeous offices they are now.
Come and see for yourselves
We would love to show you round our lovely office and show you some of the original features that are still here. It’s like stepping back in history! Get in touch today to work with us.
