A BLACKSMITH whose family business has been in Orpington for more than 200 years is set to gain TV fame.

David Curtis, 41, works with his father Bill, 75, at The Forge on the Crouch Farm estate, Cray Road.

The business has been traced back through the family to the early 1800s, when the forge was based in central Crockenhill.

Since the decline of horse-drawn transport, the smithy has created specialist ornate ironwork using new techniques alongside traditional ones. Now his work has found fame on BBC1's Home Front programme.

A specially-designed pond cover made at the forge will be shown on the November 14 show where Diarmuid Gavin and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen do a house makeover in West Wickham.

The forge at Crouch Farm still contains a great deal of antique equipment. The traditional open fire forge and anvil still have pride of place.

Mr Curtis said: "I'm really proud of my family's heritage. Smithying has long associations with the local area, as the names of some nearby roads and buildings testify. But I'm always looking for innovative ways to make ironwork relevant for today."

November 5, 2001 16:21