William Blowers Smithy in the 1890s.
Southwold Museum P234
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'Billie' Blowers, one of Southwold's best known blacksmiths.
He made the metal parts of fishing gear and, during the
summer season, started work so early in the morning that
the neighbours complained. From Barrett Jenkins book ' Bygones
and Local Characters of Southwold' , reproduced by permission
of the author's daughter, Ann Thornton.
Ann Blowers, nee Stannard, the wife of William (Billie) Blowers above. The photo is thought to date from about 1880 when Ann was in her early 60s.
Photo kindly supplied by A J Blowers.
Billie Blowers in his Smithy in 1875.
Photo kindly supplied by A J Blowers.
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Robert Charles Blowers and his sister, Harriet Ann in about 1860s
Photo courtesy of Ian Goffin
Robert Charles Blowers in 1870
Photo kindly supplied by A J Blowers.
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This picture, taken outside the forge in 1895, shows three generations of Blowers - Billie Blowers in the front, Robert Charles, his son, on the right and Jack, his grandson, on the left. The man at the back is an employee.
Photo kindly supplied by A J Blowers.
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Bill head dating from 1900, from a collection in Southwold Museum.
Robert Charles Blowers, now a widower, in about 1910 before his marriege to Florence (below)
Photo kindly supplied by A J Blowers.
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Florence Blowers (nee Farmery), Robert Charles' second wife in 1918.
Photo kindly supplied by A J Blowers.
Mobile knife sharpener outside the Blowers smithy, believed to be about 1913. Identity of the tradesman not known. The sharpening service may or may not have been part of the Blowerrs service. Further details welcomed.
Photo by Marcus Dawkins: Mike Hardy collection.
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Wheel-rim fitting at the rear of the forge probably about 1913..
Photo by Marcus Dawkins: Mike Hardy collection.
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Arthur Noller outside the forge. He ran the smithy from 1921 until the Second World War.
Photo courtesy of Paul Scriven, MBE
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No 40a in the 1950s when, for a time, it became the Post Office following a fire at the regular Post Office across the road.
From a postcard in the Robert Palmer collection, courtesy of Margaret Palmer
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