Description and History of Site:-
The last clog iron forge in the country, exclusively making 'Colne' irons as they were known in the trade, closed on 2nd August 1950. The founder's grandson Mr C.T. Green claimed on closing that, they had been the last specialist clog iron forge in the world. 'Colne' irons were a thicker pattern introduced from Colne, Lancashire with flat sections on the front which were nailed to the underside of the wooden clog sole.
The forge consisted of hearths with hand-operated bellows, a wooden stock with a heavy iron block holding a small anvil, or 'Stiddy', a 'Hardy', or chisel, the tapered 'Pike', also a swage for forming the groove in the clog iron and two punches for making the nail holes.
At the back of the stock is fixed the 'Oliver' or foot hammer, which the smith operates by pressing down on a foot treadle with his right foot, a spring pole lifting the hammer back into its rest position. Eventually, the 'Oliver', or 'Leg Hammer' was replaced by the electrically driven Power Hammer.
One of Thomas Green's employees, George Baron, perfected the craft of clog iron making on a production line system, with each man responsible for one or two operations of the production, instead of the whole process. Another employee, Harry Mitchell, designed the first moulds, templates and blocks. At one time Thomas Green's had 16 to 20 hearths in use but still found it difficult keeping up with demand.
This increase in productivity led to them overtaking their Lancashire competitors, with Silsden becoming the actual home of 'Colne' irons. At it's peak Silsden clog iron making employed 100 men, and 'exported' back into Lancashire. A man on piece work could earn 18 to 28 shillings a week.
The steel stock used for the irons were twelve feet long (3.6m) mild steel rods, bought in Birmingham, but after 1918 were obtained cheaper from Belgium.
A rare colour film by Sam Hanna of Burnley, dated 1945-49, shows the clog iron hearths working at Thomas Green's of Silsden; http://www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk/viewVideo.php?token=9642agw25756q2d516604nxZYm7485b49Hq c1874 Thomas Green establishes his clog iron forge business.
By 1927 the business invoices show Thomas Green's as Clog Iron Manufacturers and Leather Factors.
The accounts seen between December 1938 and December 1939, show the business to be producing socks too.
The last clog iron produced was on 2nd August 1950.
On closure of the forge, many of the forging tools, and hearth equipment, were presented to Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley by Mr C.T. Green, where they are on permanent display (2018).
The business became a limited company on 28th December 1951.
Feb 1 1983 The Lancashire Sock Manufacturing Company of Bacup purchased Thomas Green (Silsden). The new owners said that the insoles being produced by Green's at that time would continue to be available.

Further Reading and References:-
Hartley, M and Ingilby, J. Life and traditions in West Yorkshire. Dent, 1976, pp143-144
Reconstructed craft workshops. 1st ed. Borough of Keighley Art Gallery and Museum, 1964, pp3-8.
Mason, R. Pennine village. 1971, pp9-10.
Shoe & Leather News, February 3 1983, p22.
Many thanks to Silsden Local History Group for the use of their Archives and very useful advice.

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- clog iron forge colne irons

Viewing the Site :- Public access along Sykes Lane

Address :- Sykes Lane, Silsden, West Yorkshire, BD20 0ED
Grid Ref :- SE 04097 46095
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.910993 , Long -1.939118
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to industrial / commercial use
Record Date :- 26 July 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford