Tielt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – 14-year-old blacksmith Bruce Wolf is restoring ironwork on the oldest stone house in Tielt-Winge. Project lead Tom Defillet praises his skill and attention to detail.
As reported by VRT News, in Tielt-Winge, a municipality in Flemish Brabant province, Belgium, a group of people is working to renovate the Hageland region’s oldest stone house. The iron parts of the building are being made by Bruce Wolf, a 14-year-old blacksmith. Some people were unsure about him because he is so young. But other blacksmiths who have worked for many years said he is very good.
Tom Defillet, who helps lead the project, said he was not sure at first. But when Bruce showed him a picture of what he wanted to make, Tom got excited. He said Bruce sees small details very well and cares a lot about his work. He mentioned that Bruce’s iron pieces are not just strong, they also match the old style of the house.
“At the moment, he has only made the wall anchors and the nails, but I am thinking of having him make a door for an old baking oven in addition to the decorative elements,”
says Defillet.
What is a 14-year-old Blacksmith making in Tielt-Winge?
According to officials, the old stone house in Tielt-Winge is being carefully restored and is seen as one of the biggest heritage projects in the Hageland area. Many believe it is the oldest stone house in the region. The team working on it wants to keep the building’s old look.
They mentioned that one very important part of the work is the ironwork. It helps the house look the same as it did long ago. The metal pieces are made by hand and follow the style used in the past. Bruce is making these iron pieces.
The work on the old house in Tielt-Winge will continue until the end of this year. Bruce is uncertain whether he wants to become a blacksmith full-time. He claims the work is very laborious, and he believes that the desire for old-style ironwork is such that not many people have any interest. Because of that, it is not easy to find new work.
As Bruce states,
“If I’m not doing it as a job, I’ll still forge with iron in my free time. I love it too much to walk away from it. I’ll keep blacksmithing as a hobby.”
Bruce’s blacksmithing journey began at 10 years old, sitting around a campfire with the family. He was curious and threw a piece of rebar into the fire just to see what would happen. His mother encouraged him to try hitting it with a hammer, which he did – and loved it.
His grandfather was a blacksmith. He saw that Bruce was interested. He bought Bruce a second forge and showed him how to start. Bruce began making small things. He kept learning and practising. He watched other blacksmiths and got better over time. For Bruce, it is not just work. It means a lot to him.
