Meet Stacey Hibberd, a 32-year-old woman from Edinburgh who’s keeping the age-old craft of blacksmithing alive.
Stacey, who lives in Newhaven, confessed that as a little girl she dreamt of becoming a vet. But her love for history and horses led her down a different path – to become a blacksmith.
She has worked on historic buildings all over the city, preserving ironwork. But the highlight of her career so far was when she got to make the roundels for King Charles’ coronation.
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Stacey said: “Five-year-old me would be quite surprised at my job today – I was convinced I was going to be a vet. I had an obsession with horses as a child and I was fortunate enough to ride but I never had my own horse, and my family was never in that environment.”
“I was determined to work with horses, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to ride professionally as my family couldn’t afford more riding lessons. So, my mum and I looked for alternative careers that involved horses,” reports Edinburgh Live.
“We were at a country show when I was about 11 and saw a local farrier there demonstrating shoeing. He was a lovely man and provided lots of information, which inspired us to start researching farrier apprenticeships.
“After starting on my career path, I realised I enjoyed the metalwork aspect the most and it led me to a career in the heritage sector as a conservation blacksmith with Historic Environment Scotland.”
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the Newhaven resident explained that, as a woman, some people are initially surprised when she turns up to construction sites. But Stacey added that people are quick to include her.
“When people think of blacksmithing, they just think of hitting metal with a big hammer but it’s so much more than that. It’s about digging around in our past and using creative methods to bring ideas to life.Join Edinburgh Live’s Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.”
Blacksmiths do lots of small things that make a big difference – there’s lots of behind the scenes stuff happening that people don’t get to see.
“I’ve never felt any prejudice from the blacksmith community, they’ve always been very welcoming and eager to share knowledge or help out,” the 32-year-old added. “Even when my blacksmith work takes me to construction sites, I’ve never experienced any prejudice.
(Image: Historic Environment Scotland)
“There’s been surprise initially when I arrive but I’ve always found that doesn’t last long and that people even try extra hard to include me. I feel privileged to have had such a positive and friendly experience, as I’m aware that not all women working in trade industries experience the same.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is dealing with portaloos on sites, especially at a certain time of the month, as they don’t necessarily accommodate women’s sanitary needs, making it hard to be discreet.”
In 2023, the important task of crafting gifts for King Charles III fell to Stacey, with one of her creations gracing the Stone of Destiny’s box.”
(Image: Historic Environment Scotland)
“There are many things I’m proud of from my time in a heritage career,” Stacey shared. “My most memorable moment would be the roundels I made for King Charles’ coronation.
“One of the stonemasons at HES hand-modelled the roundel – which is a round disc with an image on it in clay. This particular roundel, the Lion Rampant roundel, was inspired by the Lion panel above the drawbridge at the entrance to Edinburgh Castle.
“The Lion was digitally scanned to produce a 3D model, which in turn was used to create a full-sized 3D pattern from which a mould was created. I then cast it in molten pewter before a 23.5-carat gold gilded finish was hand-applied by a HES painter.
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“We created small roundels to present as gifts to the King and a big one that was put on the box that the Stone of Destiny sits in.”
Stacey added: “Blacksmithing is a special skill to have – being able to customise and specially create pieces of work is not an everyday occurrence in most people’s lives.
My role has been life-changing in so many different ways and the skills I’ve acquired through my career have enabled me to travel all over the country for work and visit some incredible places.”
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