Heart or Forge

The hearth or forge was the heart of the smithy. Usually square and brick built the hearth contained the fire and raised it to a height where work could be switched from it to the anvil and back with the minimum of lifting. 

    Above the forge a tapering cowl built of brick or sheet iron collected the smoke or fumes and led them up to the chimney. In front of the forge often built  into it was a cast iron water trough or "bosh" used for cooling the work or quenching tools that got too hot.  A rail on which the smith kept his array of tongs was fixed to the forge at a handy height.