17th Century Forge Experience Day
2020
Please use the enquiry form below for further information
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in a 17th Century Forge? Little Woodham are offering a unique experience; a chance to spend a day working in the 17th Century coal forge with our village blacksmith, David Brightmore.
A little different to a normal professional blacksmithing day, we hope this will appeal to the novice as well as a more experienced blacksmith.
The day will allow you the opportunity to learn age old techniques, some of which are no longer used in a modern forge. Using period anvils including a rare old English fifth foot anvil, you will work in steel and more traditional wrought iron and produce reproduction ironwork to take home.
To enjoy the day you don’t need any prior knowledge of blacksmithing. You will learn techniques such as how to bend, twist, draw out and shape the iron as well as identifying different temperatures will be explained in a relaxed and informal way to give you the best opportunity to get the most out of the day.
Cost = £130.00
Per attendee
Maximum of two experience day attendees in the forge.
£65 deposit payable when booking. The remaining £65 to be paid 7 days prior to the experience day by bank transfer or cheque.
Spectators = no charge
(and most welcome)
Start Time = 09:00
End time = 17:00
The day will start at 9:00 with a brief safety chat after which you will prepare and light the fire using a flint and steel. David will then show you around the forge to familiarise you with the tools and equipment that you’ll be using, and on a typical experience day you will start off making a hand forged square headed rose head nail. Look carefully at a wooden beam in any old building and you’ll be sure to see this type of nail. The great thing about making a nail is it will allow you to quickly become familiar with the old anvils, how hard/soft to hit the metal and to become familiar with the forge environment. Then you'll make other period items, depending on your experience some items can take longer than you think, and remember it is quite physical work so it’s important to pace yourself. There can be plenty of breaks for refreshment
Although there are no age restrictions, I would recommend a minimum age of 16 purely due to the heavy work involved.
Dates available - 2020
March 2020
Sunday 15th - Fully booked
Sunday 29th - Fully booked
April 2020
Sunday 5th - Fully booked
Sunday 19th - Fully booked
May 2020
Sunday 17th - Fully booked
Sunday 31st - Fully booked
June 2020
Sunday 14th - Fully booked
July 2020
Sunday 26th - 1 Space reserved
1 space booked
September 2020
Saturday 13th - 1 space available
- 1 space booked
Sunday 27th - Fully reserved
October 2020
Sunday 18th - Fully booked
November 2020
Sunday 1st - Fully booked
Enquiry form
Please choose which date you would like to book, and then us using the Enquiry form, don't forget to mention whether you have blacksmithing experience and your address so that we can send you booking confirmation and the correct information pack.
You will receive a reply stating the day has been reserved and provide you all the details of how to fully book the date.
