HAVING been part of the business community of Penryn for the past 100 years, Davey & Jordan, the town's well known master blacksmithing business, is on the move again.

Having had three premises in Penryn over the years - in Hill Head, Commercial Road and Kernick Industrial Estate - the company is moving to Visick's Yard, in Perranwell to join forces with others.

Visick's is also the site of an old forge where the Visick family made Cornish ranges and other equipment right up until the 1990s.

Roger Jordan, the proprietor of the family business, wishes to expand the partnership, but in a different direction, with the introduction of considerably more stainless steel work, which his company currently does not offer.

Roger and his new team will be expanding their skill base here in Cornwall. These complimentary master skills will benefit both businesses as they move forward into the 21st century. On the horizon of their future plans is the possibility that the developers for Perran Foundry will one day be successful in restoring the original "foundry" at Perranwell, of which the Jordan forge could be an interesting participant.

The Davey and Jordan business has grown over the years to be known nationally as a master blacksmithing company doing many outstanding pieces of work for people such as church and cathedral commissions, stately properties for the Crown Agents in London, National Trust and even royalty. This is as well as producing most of the gates and railings of properties around Cornwall over the years.

Harry Jordan and his son, Michael, were awarded the Freedom of the City of London by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths for their dedication to the craft over the years and both Michael and Roger won the National Award for Master Smiths at Stoneleigh in 1978.

Most recently their credits include supporting Michael's business, Cornish Stairways Ltd, by producing the proto-type work for the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

Michael said: "Putting all this resource together with Roger and others' skill base we can now move forward to bigger and greater things further field as well as supporting local needs in both commercial and private property requirements as is needed. We look forward to welcoming all our old clients to our new site at Visick's yard from the beginning of March."