Rushden Research Group: James Guinee blacksmith

James Guinee - Blacksmith

James Guinee bought the business in 1955 from the Ginns family who had been
blacksmiths for several generations, trading from their premises near The Green.
Jimmy left in 1972 and moved to Yelden.

Colin Bryant Collection
Courtesy of Rushden Museum

James J Guinee - blacksmith and welder

Rushden Echo & Argus, 16th November 1951
“And children coming home from school look in at the open door.” The ponies, their riders, the sturdy blacksmith and the children are all, in fact, outside Rushden’s old smithy in High Street South, but the flaming forge and roaring bellows are not far away, and the scene is richly in keeping with Longfellow’s famous poem.

Northampton Mercury & Herald, 25^th June 1954

"Foreigners" Carry On Old Craft

NOT many of the old rural crafts are still practised in Rushden. But work carries on in the blacksmith's ancient shop, where they are just as busy as ever.

Both Jim Guinee, from Southern Ireland, and Ukrainian Michael Moskalyk worked in blacksmith's shops in their own countries before coming to England.

Work in a Ukrainian forge is much the same as here, said Mr. Moskalyk, in good English. He finds there are fewer horses to shoe.

Jim Guinee (left)welding in the blacksmith's shop. Looking on is Ukrainian Michel Moskalyk.


Jimmy Guinee (left) and helper - shoeing Lady Jane Grey for Miss Libby Risdale in 1972

Evening Telegraph, February 1985

'Nostalgia Special'

This picture was taken in January 1955.

The blacksmith is Jimmy Guinee who soon afterwards bought the business and in the early seventies moved to Yelden.

By 1955 the use of horses to draw carts was just about coming to an end, according to Mr Guinee, but riding for leisure remained popular.

Index of all Traders