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For three centuries many craftsmen and women supplied the villager's needs and brought trade
to Smalley: millers, blacksmiths, saddlers, ropemakers, tailors, wheelwrights, boot
and shoe makers, joiners, stonemasons, milliners, dressmakers, nailers, whitesmiths and many
others, plied their crafts in Smalley - once even an elastic bandage maker. Their role in village life was vital. One workshop, however, must have a special mention. The village smithy with its anvil and furnace, row upon row of neatly ordered tools and heaps of discarded horse shoes, had been kept intact by the family of the last Smalley blacksmith as a tribute to his work, and an historical feature of the village - a reminder of an era of Smalley not long past. Records of past owners and other backsmiths 1802 - Anthony Walker, Abraham and John (sons) also in 1801 census 1829 - Joel Walker 1841 - Frederick Walker Also John Foster, Smalley Common; Samuel Wheatcroft, Smalley Common; Richard Kerry, Smalley Common, and William Smith, Kidsley Park. 1851 - Frederick Walker 29 (also small farmer) Mary Ann 27, Joel 8, Elizabeth 6, Mary 3, Martha 1, James Harrison (apprentice) Also Richard Kerry, Smalley Common 1857 - Frederick Walker; Richard Kerry, Smalley Common 1861 - Mary Walker, blacksmith, (widow) Joel 18, blacksmith, daughters Elizabeth 16, Mary 14, Sarah 9, son Anthony 5, James Harrison, journeyman blacksmith. Also Richard Kerry and sons William and Samuel 1871 - Mary Ann Walker (widow) Joel 28, blacksmith, George Tomlinson 18, apprentice Also Samuel Turton, blacksmith & farmer, Simon Field; Walter Kyte, blacksmith's apprentice; Richard Kerry and son Samuel; Samuel Kerry (son of Anthony Walker of the Rose & Crown) blacksmith's apprentice; Athur Carrington, blacksmith's apprentice, and Thomas Oldknow 17, blacksmith 1881 - Joel Walker was a farmer of 52 acres, not recorded as a blacksmith Blacksmiths in 1881 - Aaron Hartshorne and Samuel Kerry, Smalley Green 1891 - Herbert Cox 27, from Newton Solney and Sarah 26, from Twyford, Also Robert Fox, apprentice to blacksmith; John Wright, blacksmith & farmer, with son George, his apprentice 1901 - Herbert Cox Also Joseph Shelton, wheelwright and blacksmith, with sons Joseph 17, blacksmith, and George 13, wheelwright; John Wright, Smalley Green, blacksmith & farmer 1921 - George Ernest West (son in law of Mr Cox), also in 1912 Directory 1927 - Joseph Shelton, blacksmith, Olive and Joseph, children, William Shelton, brother, wheelwright Both Joseph Shelton Sen. and Joe junior were responsible for re-chaining the ancient yew tree in the church yard. Joe senior repainted and repaired the supporting girders of the church bells about 1960 - an arduous and dangerous task. Shortly before his death, Joe junior wrought the the attractive sign for Smalley Art Group, which hangs outside Smalley Institute.
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