The Smithy, Balmaclellan closed in September 2013,  It used to be the thriving centre of the community, but with increasingly complex new technologies and the modern throw-away culture it has lost its role.

“The fields were all hayed in those days –the hay bobs and were always breaking down and Alastair and Joe would be out in the fields until dark repairing tractors and bailers and stuff like that.  Anything they couldn’t mend there they’d bring it back to the Smiddy on a lorry.  But after that the farmers started making silage and getting in the big contractors, so the work dried up”.

  

“There used to be so many birds in the little meadow out at the back – peewits, skylarks – but they’ve changed the cropping times and started making silage. Now the birds have all gone.”

  

The Smithy interiors have inspired the use of bitumen and lime-wash in my work