Jan/Feb - Piddle Valley Community Website

Remembering Piddletrenthide ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Forge Interview with Joan Hunt 6 th September 2010
My grandfather, William Joseph HUNT (5-12-1850 m.28-04-1874 Emily Ailles
20-03-1844) was probably the first person to run the forge. His parents had
come to Piddletrenthide to live in their retirement. William and Emily had 5
children: George Ailles (b.1875 & d. aged 13yrs), Kate Beatrice (b.1878) Emily
(b.1881) Malina Hannah (b.1883) & Charles Matthews my father (b.7-11-
1885). Charles was sent to school aged 3 years old with his three sisters as his
brother was ill.
© Joan Hunt
The house behind the Forge was quite large with four bedrooms, two living
rooms, a kitchen & scullery, but of course, no bathroom ! It was originally
thatched but after it caught fire the roof was replaced with galvanised
sheeting. Many years later, when a new building was put up for welding, the
old house was pulled down.
After Granny died, Grandfather continued to live at the Forge with Charles,
until he married in 1913. Bill Chalke lived there too whilst he worked for
William. Someone came in to clean and Mrs Sturmey from Doles Ash came in
to collect the washing. When William caught pneumonia the doctor said he
couldn’t carry on living there alone & he moved in with my family at Kirby
Cottages for 7 years until his death at the age of 86.
My father Charles started working at the Forge at the age of 14 although of
course he would have been helping out there at weekends and holidays
before then. He preferred working with wood so he would have been the
52