Ian Swann and I paid a visit to Peter’s forge/workshop last week with Richard Farrington, the original arch sculptor. It was such an amazing feeling walking down a narrow alleyway behind Osborne Road in Southsea and entering a tiny courtyard full of old bits of metal of many sizes, to find the two
key people of the Arch Restoration Project comfortably chatting away in the sunlight discussing the finer details of the arch construction. I had been looking forward to this visit ever since the FOCW had engaged Peter Clutterbuck to carry out the reconstruction of Richard Farrington’s original Gateway Arch to Centurion Way in November 2022.
It was an exciting and really interesting morning and lovely to meet Peter’s team of two, John Duffield and Patrick Mannerings, (not forgetting Mouse the long haired dachshund) who assist Peter in the creation an exceptional variety of structures in such an amazingly small space. There are so many examples of their work all over Portsmouth, in the surrounding areas of Hampshire and much further afield.
Do have a look at their website, Peter Clutterbuck Blacksmiths – https://peteclutterbuck.co.uk . We are very lucky to have such a competent and inspirational team restoring the Centurion Way Arch.
Carley Sitwell
Below is a picture of Carley Sitwell with Richard Farrington (Sculptor and creator of the original archway), Peter Clutterbuck (designer craft blacksmith restoring the Archway), John Duffield and Patrick Mannerings (Peters team of forge blacksmiths).
Below are examples of some of their work
