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USEFUL INFO & FAQs

Information about our Blacksmith Experience Days

Find all you need to know in our FAQs and detailed guide below.

How do I Get to You?

Located in rural Herefordshire on Old Field Farm near Garway Hill. You can use our postcode HR2 8HA to find us.

We definitely recommend bringing your own car or a friend willing to drive you if at all possible.

Our nearest train stations are Hereford and Abergavenny.

If you aren’t coming in your own car we recommend booking a taxi in advance to get you here and back again as unfortunately there isn’t public transport to our location.

Please pre-book your taxi as phone signal isn’t always guaranteed here on site. Make sure to also let your blacksmith know on the day so they can make sure you finish on time!

What hours is your office open?

Our office hours are Monday- Friday from 9am until 3pm.

Please email [email protected] allowing up to 48 hours for our team to respond to your email. We aim to reply to all enquiries and booking requests within 24 hours.

We are a family run company, if your call is urgent please contact 07716152354.

What should I wear?

A t-shirt (with a jumper in winter) is preferred, no flammable tops such as lycra are allowed to be worn. Jeans or trousers are recommended to be worn. No vests or crop-tops where skin is exposed is advised. No loose cuffs or torn clothing are to be worn, as these can act as a snagging hazard. Shorts or skirts are also not permitted. Overalls can be worn, however, leather aprons are preferred and provided.

If you have steel toe capped boots or supportive footwear then this is preferred.  For examples; trainers, ankle boots, walking boots. Open toe shoes or trousers tucked into boots are not allowed.

We do ask for long hair must be tied back and to remove rings, watches or bracelets in the workshop as these pose a snagging hazard.

Health & safety guidance

Do you provide lunch?

Please note lunch is not automatically included with your workshop. We have a small tuck-shop on site where you can purchase snacks, drinks and pastries. Everything sold is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please be aware there is a minimum £10.00 spend on card therefore cash is recommended when buying snacks and for our hot drinks machine which only accepts change.

You are welcome to bring your own lunch with you and if you have any dietary requirements we do recommend this.

Can I re-book my voucher?

We require a minimum of 14 days notice prior to your scheduled workshop date for cancellations and re-booking requests. All requests must be sent and recieved in writing to [email protected] with your voucher/booking details.

In the event of cancellation or booking amendments made less than 14 days before the event (due to reasons including, but not limited to, medical conditions, family bereavements and family/work commitments,) or failure to attend the event, you will forfeit your booking. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.

In such circumstances, Oldfield Forge Ltd shall be entitled to retain full payment and shall charge an appropriate fixed cancellation fee (as outlined in the table listed within our full Terms and Conditions), which is reflective of the direct losses we would incur by losing the booking.

For the avoidance of doubt, in relation to potentially adverse weather conditions, Oldfield Forge Ltd will operate experience days only when it is safe to do so. If you wish to cancel a booking due to your perception of the weather (when we have deemed it is safe for an experience day to proceed), you will forfeit your booking.   

Group bookings of over four people require you to provide a minimum of 6 weeks’ notice, in order to re-book without incurring a cancellation charge. Please check our Cancellation Policy for more detailed information.

Situated in the village of Garway and still less than a mile from the local pub, Oldfield Forge is the perfect place to relax and take in the local area by foot or bike.

The area also has a historical connection to the Knights Templar, bringing visitors to the area from all over the country. The wild ponies on Garway Hill are not to be missed, as well as the surrounding hills of the Black Mountains and the Monnow Valley.

We are conveniently situated:

  • 10 miles from Hereford
  • 9 miles from Ross-on-Wye
  • 9 miles from Monmouth
  • 11 miles from Abergavenny

We have built good relationships with surrounding campsites, B&Bs and hotels.
Here is our list of the accommodation we recommend here at the forge.

Garway Hill – walking attraction to see the wild ponies
Garway Common – local park
Pengthley Farm Shop & Garden Centre
Skenfrith Castle
The Viking Games
HS Activities
Westons Cider
Blue Elephant Cafe
Gwatkins Cider
Mountain Mayhem
Hereford Cathedral
Canoe the Wye
Rowlestone Ice Cream

It’s also worth noting that there aren’t many petrol stations close to us and so it’s definitely a good idea to make sure you have a full tank!

The closest garages to us are:

Broad Oak Garage
Broad Oak, Hereford, HR2 8QU

Lock’s Garage Allensmore
Hereford, HR2 9AS

Forge Filling Station
Wormbridge, Hereford, HR2 9DH

What can you make?

Blacksmithing is not as easy as it looks, so we have put together a list of pieces that we know can be designed and made within our experience day time frames.

For those taking part in our ‘Just For Fun’ or ‘Couples’ experience packages, we have lots of ideas for you to choose from.

There is also scope for variation within the Knife making courses. Our blacksmiths will discuss all possible options including the shape, size and style of your knife on-site before starting the course.

Half-Day Packages

  • Selection of hooks or nails
  • Fire poker
  • Candlestick
  • Bottle opener
  • Pen holder
  • Cheese Knife
  • Herb chopper
  • Toasting fork
  • Rose – between two people
  • Towel rail
  • Small cabinet handle

Full-Day Packages

  • Rose – for one person
  • Dragonfly (garden ornament)
  • Hanging basket bracket
  • Door knocker
  • Candlestick
  • Wall sconce for candle
  • Pen holder
  • Herb chopper
  • Spear Head
  • Scroll / Viking knife
  • Fire tools

Knifemaking

  • Seax
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Bushcraft Knife
  • Nakiri (Japenese Vegetable Cleaver)
  • Santoku
  • Billhook
  • Tanto
  • Cleaver
  • Meze Luna
  • Draw Knife
  • Bowie Knife

Loyalty Card

We don’t do things by halves here at Oldfield!

Have you seen our awesome hand forged, heavy duty loyalty card?

Book direct and attend three different workshops to start yours.

Collect all the stamps to obtain a full day with one of our expert Blacksmiths!

Find out more here.

Engagements and proposals

A wedding proposal is one of life’s most memorable moments. Over the years, Oldfield Forge has been lucky enough to have the pleasure of being involved in a number of wedding proposals.
 
Make it even more unforgettable by combining your engagement plans with a visit to the forge. Get down on one knee in our beautiful woodlands area and then work hand-in-hand with our team to design and make your own engagement or wedding rings.
 
This stunning romantic proposal is bound to do the trick! Work closely with our events team and we will ensure it is a day that is never forgotten.

Interested in being a Blacksmith?


Have a degree or keen interest in forging and teaching? How would you like to join our wonderful team here at Oldfield Forge!


We post all of our latest opportunities over on our jobs board here!

Take part in our online competitions!


We believe that our experience doesn’t end when you leave the forge, get the recognition you deserve for some fantastic forging!


Once you have left us with your steel, hand-forged in hot flame, you are just taking the next step in your journey. We always like to see how the pieces made by our customers end up. To promote this, we have some fun competitions for our community- take part on social media and show us what you’ve got!

Find more info and enter online here.

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