A SET of bespoke gates made by a group of Exmoor blacksmiths for a client more than 10,000 miles away in Australia has been shortlisted - twice - for a prestigious construction award.

West Country Blacksmiths, in Allerford, helped produce three sets of bespoke gates for a property in rural New South Wales.

The unique commission brought together a collaborative group of class-leading, Exmoor-based blacksmiths to design and create the gates.

The client was an admirer of the work of renowned retired artist-blacksmith James Horrobin, and commissioned a collaboration between Mr Horrobin, Dominic Hesp, and the craftsmen of West Country Blacksmiths.

The gates were meticulously handcrafted from steel at West Country Blacksmiths’ historic National Trust-owned forge near Porlock.

They were galvanized for maximum protection against rust and finished with a durable paint system.

Select design elements were gilded with 23-carat gold leaf by Gabrielle Horrobin, adding a refined, timeless detail to the final pieces.

After completion, the gates were carefully shipped to the New South Wales property, where they were installed by local tradespeople.

Now, the project has been shortlisted for the 2025 GAGA Construction Awards in both the artistic work and detail categories.

The GAGA Awards is a UK-based programme which recognises the outstanding contributions made to society and public spaces by UK companies both nationally and internationally.

West Country Blacksmiths was previously shortlisted twice for the GAGA awards three years ago with a decorative oak leaf and acorn balustrade on an oak frame extension for a farm in Leighton Buzzard, and a range of bespoke metalwork made for Bittescombe Lodge and Deer Park, near Wiveliscombe, where the metalwork included a pair of automated gates, two pairs of gates, two personnel gates, four metal and glass balconies, large sections of railings, and the main sign for the lodge.