Want to have something in common with John and Patricia Kluge, The British royal family, The College of William & Mary, and “The Beverly Hillbillies” mansion? Then you should commission a mandmade item from local metalsmiths Stokes of England. Whether it’s imposing wrought-iron gates for your stately home, beautiful and long-lasting furniture for your house or garden, delicate wall scones or a graceful chandelier, an intricate fire screen or a free-standing sculpture, if it’s metal, Stokes makes it.
Despite the name, Stokes was founded here in 1981 by British master metalsmith Joe Stokes and his son Stephen, who had been an American exchange student and decided to stay. (Two years later, Joe went back to Blighty to set up the firm’s U.K. branch, now run by younger son Chris.) The company’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Southern Living, The New York Times, and on PBS and the BBC. Since 1995, Stokes has been based at its forge in Keswick, where you can visit to watch its smiths at work.
In August 2022, the local Stokes was purchased by Mike and Truleigh Trennepohl, as part of their dream to live in central Virginia and run a family business. Mike and his son Ashton are now forging ahead, learning the metalsmith trade from Stephen Stokes.