St Clements Day at Finch foundry

[tomongoose]

I went to Finch Foundry in Stickle path as they were having an open day today as it's St Clements day. They were the last working water powered forge in the country running from the 1800's until 1960. My Brother has an old finch spar hook he still uses for hedge laying to this day.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Mmmmm ... dad took me there when i was a wee kiddy. I was born in Okehampton and lived there on and off until I was about 7.

 

[Tengu]

I have visited it too, its a fastinating place.

400 tools a day, -all powered by water. In its way it is a very modern set up, not your village forge at all.

 

[Dreadhead]

ooo looks like a good place to visit thanks for sharing that

 

[grey-array]

Good 'Ol fashioned natural automation, why cant we do more stuff like this in the world
I love those production techniques. Thanks for sharing
Yours sincerely Ruud

 

[Dave Budd]

i normally go along and demo with the other smiths for st clems. This year i coked up my dates and ran a sharpening course yesterday

 

[tomongoose]

I saw a few of your knifes Dave as after we finished at the Foundry we went to Chagford and there were some for sale in a little shop there

 

[Dave Budd]

ah yes, Wood & Rush. A little craft shop with a lot of stuff crammed into it! Shame it's only open two days a week.

The couple that own it are the reason that I am doing what I do for a living and took me when I first moved to Dartmoor nearly a decade ago