The Blacksmith

The Blacksmith

21 Papakura-Clevedon Road
Trail marker #17

Here stands the cottage of one of Clevedon’s blacksmiths, John Alexander Munro, or ‘Old Jack’ as he described himself.

Jack’s cottage at No 21 was once flanked by the smithy at No 23. Jack toiled on over the years in his smithy, shoeing the horses and attending to the implements and ironwork that kept the wheels of those days turning.

Jack was a member of one of the district’s early families and would often be seen heading off to bush or countryside on some safari best known to himself, usually accompanied by his black & white spaniel.

  • Jack Munro was also the creator of a humorous and unusual line of advertising that created some interest and amusement.

    Included here are two of the advertisements in which Jack showed great originality and humour. These appeared in some old A&P Annual Show programme booklets.

    1920
    MUNRO & CO CLEVEDON, WHEELWRIGHTS, FARRIERS & GENERAL SMITHS ETC
    The old firm is now reduced to JAM as sole representative and true to his initials, he will try to JAM down your throats that you will get as good a service as formerly. Try him, it Will not break you.

    1923
    JOHN A MUNRO, WAIROA SMITHY. THE HORSES’ FRIEND
    Though motored into a corner, is still alive, sound of wind and limb and certainly not overcrowded. Regular attendance and prompt service is still his motto. Work is all he wants. Money he can make himself, being a forger.

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Location Map

You are currently at Heritage Trail Location #17, The Blacksmith

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The Bootmaker (approx 50m)

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    The Bootmaker (approx 50m)

    Continue north to the ‘Cobbler’s Workshop’

The information for each site has been thoughtfully prepared in collaboration with the Clevedon Districts Historical Society, drawing on Voices of Belonging by Jessie Munro, Yesteryears by F. Murray, and records from the McNicol Homestead Museum. Together, they tell the story of Clevedon and the people and places that made it the community we know today.

A special acknowledgement to photographer Donna Jepsen for her work capturing these sites as they appear today.