The SMITH craft was one of the ancient trades of Irvine. In 1419 there were two smiths in the town, one in the present Glasgow Vennel which was named Smiddy Bar or Smeddy Bar and the other at Seagatehead.

Originally the SMITHS or HAMMERMEN produced goods for sale in the local markets. These included pewter plates, basic cutlery and buckles. The SMITH CRAFT also embraced Lorimers (clockmakers), Saddlers, Armourers and Silver and Goldsmiths. By the middle ages the SMITHS were the leaders of industry. Not only did they forge weapons but farming tools and the implements for other craftsmen - hooks and shears for thatchers, chisels and picks for stone masons, and saws and adzes for carpenters.

Everyone admitted to the CRAFT had first to produce an Assay piece as this quotation from the HAMMERMEN'S minute book attests."Irvine, August 5th 1725. The which day the HAMMERMEN TRADE being met in the house of William Cumming they have ordered Oughter Ffairre and Robert Miller to make and give their say pieces gainst this day fourth days. Oughter's say pieceis to be a copper skelet (small kettle or Boiler), and Robert's is to be a white iron mill (snuff box). Wm. Rankin and John McDowgel is to wait upon them at making".

In the 17th century one of the HAMMERMEN, possibly an ARMOURER, established a bell foundry and cast several bells - for the Over Tollbooth in Ayr (1616), Irvine Tollbooth (1637), Maybole (1696) and Kilmarnock (1697).