What you’ll do
1
When you arrive
On arrival, you’ll be signed in and introduced to the smith who will talk through the course step-by-step and help you select which design you would like to make. We’ll discuss what you want to achieve for the day before providing you with protective equipment and a safety briefing.
2
Firing up the forge
The forge will have been lit and heating up before you arrive, so it’s ready to go! You will get an introduction on how to control and maintain the fire of the forge to a forging heat.
3
The Forging Process
You will first forge a handle using techniques such as set downs, squaring, octagonalising or rounding, once the handle is forged the next step for the knife is forging a taper and a bevel, for the cake slice you will forge a taper then use fullering or cross peening to spread out the cake slice.
4
Finishing & Polishing
Then it’s grinding, cleaning then polishing for both the knife and cake slice.
5
Photo Time
It’s great fun working alongside one another and crafting something unique! Once the forging is complete, it’s time to pose for those all-important photos at our wooden stage!
GUIDELINES FOR TAKING PART
Our experience day packages are physically demanding and have the potential for minor injury. Therefore, please seek advice from your doctor or our booking team if you’re unsure.
Be sure to dress accordingly, remembering that in the colder months it can get pretty chilly inside the workshop, despite the fires! Please wear long trousers and suitable footwear.
Make sure you follow the guidance on our website and what’s sent to you ahead of the event. And always listen to the instructions of our expert team on the day.
AVAILABILITY
The Forge is open all year round, seven days a week. Our online booking system will show you the availability in real time. Please be aware that weekends should be booked well in advance!
HOW BOOKING WORKS
Our online booking system is easy to use and allows you to choose a time and date that suits you. Once confirmed, you will receive an email with all the details you need, as well as an important form to complete.
HOW PRICING WORKS
The price of this booking covers two people making a wedding cake set during a full-day session.
We welcome groups of friends to come and take part together – simply adjust the number of people when making your booking.
If you’re buying a voucher, the voucher will entitle the recipients to a full-day session making two rings.
Reviews
We had a fantastic day here
Neither of us had ever done anything like this before and yet we have come away with beautiful matching rings which are all the more special because we made them for each other. Your staff are excellent teachers, blending humor and patience with just the right level of support and tuition to enable us to develop new skills and gain so much satisfaction from the different processes. We enjoyed this so much we are sending you our daughter and son-in-law to make a sword in the summer. Thank you again, especially Joe and Ben for making this such a memorable experience.
A really fun day and learned some new skills
Just got back from a fantastic day making wedding rings. Great location and facilities and superb knowledgeable staff…… loved it.
Romantic, creative day
We had an absolutely amazing day making our wedding rings with Joe the Blacksmith/Favourite Human. We had all the help we needed but also got to get on with it ourselves and make something really beautiful that we can’t wait to wear for the rest of our lives
Terrific day at Oldfield Forge
Friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic staff who brilliantly guided us through the process of making our wedding rings. Hard work at times, but excellent fun. You can make daggers, swords, kitchen knives, axes, and other stuff too. Can’t recommend the place enough.
Explore Our Other Experiences
Eve is relatively new to blacksmithing, but fell in love with it on the first hammer swing! She originally trained as an artistic welder and caster in Florida and loved […] Eve is relatively new to blacksmithing, but fell in love with it on the first hammer swing! She originally trained as an artistic welder and caster in Florida and loved making art that she can’t break with her own clumsiness.
Joe is our Forge Manager. He has seen the business grow from a small workshop to what you see today! He has a degree in product design, but his passion […] Joe is our Forge Manager. He has seen the business grow from a small workshop to what you see today! He has a degree in product design, but his passion has always been history. Joe wanted to take the love of making things and his passion for history and smack them together… literally!
Josh first discovered blacksmithing when he was on a trip to Dover Castle and saw a smith making arrowheads and fell in love with the craft. He did his initial […] Josh first discovered blacksmithing when he was on a trip to Dover Castle and saw a smith making arrowheads and fell in love with the craft. He did his initial training at Canterbury College and then his BA(HONS) in artist blacksmithing in Hereford. Josh comes from Deal in Kent and moved to Hereford and began teaching the craft at Oldfield Forge in the summer of 2022. His interests include Dungeons and Dragons and archery.
Ethan came to Oldfield Forge on a hammer course and instantly fell in love with the craft. He originally trained in carpentry and is the youngest blacksmith on the team. […] Ethan came to Oldfield Forge on a hammer course and instantly fell in love with the craft. He originally trained in carpentry and is the youngest blacksmith on the team. Ethan enjoys all aspects of the trade and wouldn’t consider going back. His favorite course to teach is the knife-making experience.