The old smithy near the northern end of Church Street in Effingham existed at least as far back as the 1840s and probably well before that. The former cottage that stood immediately north of it, and which was so long associated with it, was certainly very old, dating back perhaps to c1600, and for a considerable period functioned as a beerhouse named The Blacksmith’s Arms. In this article we trace the history of both smithy and cottage as far as our sources allow, discussing their uses as well as their owners and occupants.