This is the earliest photograph of Wayland Smithy that I have seen. It was probably taken in 1902 and shows the smithy before reconstruction and before the first serious dig in 1919. It was once called Wayland Smith’s Cave and NOT Waylands Smithy. You can see why from this picture.
Note the trees in the background, these are probably the beech trees planted there by the Victorians to turn it into more of a ‘folly’. Even after the storms in the 1980’s some of the original trees still remain to this day.
Image credit: Wysefool (personal collection) – Original taken in 1902! (author unknown)
