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Local History<br />
Brockdish Forge<br />
© Elaine Murphy<br />
Old Forge Court off Brockdish Street is, you will have worked<br />
out by now, built on land at the back of the old forge, or<br />
smithy, which faced onto the north side of the Street. Reputed<br />
to be over 300 years old, Brockdish Forge closed down in<br />
1962. The forge was demolished and replaced by “a model<br />
petrol station”. The petrol station many of us will remember<br />
was also a very good fishing tackle shop but that also closed<br />
as the big service stations in Diss and Harleston affected its<br />
livelihood and the bypass plans marooned the Brockdish<br />
petrol pumps from their customers.<br />
Illustration 1. Harold Reeve in Brockdish Forge 1962<br />
The forge survived a lot longer. When it finally closed, the<br />
owner 61-year-old Mr Harold William Reeve expressed a tinge<br />
of regret that the business was closing.<br />
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