Dennis (T?) Warman – a master craftsman caught on film. Still taken from the accompanying film.
A quick one for Sunday afternoon and a gem for fans of industrial history – a film about Lorinery, or the trade of making bits and hardware for saddlery, once as common in Walsall as the associated leather industry.
Loriners were known as forgers, and this is a remarkable documentary on the subject of a dying, but not quite dead trade, and features a Walsall Loriner Dennis Warman. His skill is superb and the film is a testament to a lost industrial art.
The documentary seems to have been made by the Worshipful Company of Loriners (an old Guild as far as I can tell), to record their dying industry, which is sad. I have no idea of the age, and it appears to have been originally on film rather than video tape.
I know little about the film, or Dennis – there are some credits at the end, and it appears to be produced by Stanley Schofield Productions. I was sent it via dropbox from reader John Jones, of Bloxwich, who bought a box of VHS tapes at a boot sale a few weeks ago and is gradually converting them to digital. He thinks there may be more to come.
I’m curious about Dennis, as his name is listed as T. Warman in the titles. Can anyone shed any light on this remarkable craftsman? He also exhibits a beautiful Walsall accent with impressive eloquence.
I thank John for this wonderful and generous contribution. If anyone knows about it, or the Loriner featured, please do comment or get in touch – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
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Wow. Great video, big thank you to all involved. looks as though the anvils have been used by many generations of craftsmen.
Black country history website as a Mr. T Warman listed as the last lorinery maker in Walsall
Thanks, that brought memories back for me, loved watching Denis work.
Hello,
This film of Loriner Dennis Warman was made by the Worshipful Company of Loriners in 1972. It was commissioned to record the last days of hand fordged horse bits and other items of lorinery (all the metal sections of the horse’s tack and harness).
In more recent years another film was commissioned by the Loriners’ Company of casting at the Stanley Brothers foundry in Walsall, West Midlands which is now part of the Abbey England group.
For more details please visit http://www.loriner.co.uk
Tricia Nassau-Williams
Lorinery Lecturer & Projects Manager
The Worshipful Company of Loriners
Hi was taught by Mr warman at warmans and sons ,it was my first job after leaving brownhills
Comprehensive 1977 .The foundry was in Walsall caldmore in an old
Victorian house furnace beneath our wooden floor
Don’t think health and safety would allow that lol.The bridle bits and stirrups were exported all over the world ,only worked there for nine months as I was waiting to join Royal Navy . Interesting work but hard, pouring 30 or so pattern boxes twice a day ,separating bridle components from pattern run of by hand with metal saw it was a joy to get a new blade from Mr warman lol.First weeks wage was the grand total of sixteen pounds but a great experience made me appreciate my career in navy many thanks for the memories .