Forge Your Own Axe head
£199.50 per axe
This is a fantastic seven hours of fun and learning, taught in a relaxed and friendly environment.
All of our vouchers are valid for 18 months from the date of purchase, with the Forge remaining open 7 days a week under Covid-19 restrictions.
This is a one day course and one of our most difficult packages. Our expert team of blacksmiths will guide you through each process in the design and forging of your own unique axe head. The day runs for approximately seven hours and so is not for the faint-hearted!
Set in the beautiful rural countryside our forge is located at Garway Hill in South Herefordshire. We run axe-making courses all year round in small groups or party groups. You will get the chance to design and forge your very own hand axe! Find out how tremendously satisfying it is to plunge a lump of stock steel into the flames and then let the sparks fly under your hammer as you craft your very unique axe. We will guide you through the different stages involved in making a beautiful and functional, keen-edged tool that you will take away with you at the end of the course.
The day provides a very “hands-on” experience and you will get to forge, harden, temper and sharpen your axe. We will also help you to fit your own handle if time allows. Examples of the type of axe head that you can make during your time us include: hatchet, Dane, bearded, re-enactment, adze etc., available in either one or two-handed versions. If you have a specific design of head in mind please get in touch and we can let you know whether it can be achieved within the time frame that you are with us.
You will be given an initial health and safety briefing and also an introduction to the tools and equipment available in our workshop. We then take you through some basic blacksmithing techniques before teaching you how to forge a blade head – which, when finished, would be suitable to be either used (with great care) or displayed (with considerable pride).
This is a fantastic seven hours of fun and learning, taught in a relaxed and friendly environment, where you will be made to sweat but will leave at the end of the day with an axe head that you will be proud of and take great pleasure in – along with a special story to be told.
This is much more than your normal experience day! You can see, touch, smell and experience the life of a blacksmith, taking home whatever you make with us. Be sure to dress appropriately, remembering that in the colder months it can get chilly inside the workshop (despite the fires!) We will be here to meet you on arrival where we will get all of the boring (but essential) bits out of the way. Please bring the completed Health and Safety forms with you, it’s vital they are completed prior to your visit so that you are ready to start your day as soon as you arrive. If you prefer you can always email them to us prior to arrival. All your PPE will be provided, so you will be all be ready to start your experience day with us! Oldfield Forge Academy is set in most stunning Herefordshire landscapes. We have Shepherd and Scandinavian Huts which you are welcome to use for refreshments or rest time before or after your experience. We welcome you to bring your own picnic from home or, if you wish to order a delicious home-cooked meal from our local pub, please see our menu and order directly with The Garway Moon.
Excited? Lose yourself in an experience unlike any other … and we’re sure you will want to come back for more.
Oldfield Forge Academy is located just outside the Cathedral city of Hereford in beautiful rolling countryside. Sat-nav will usually bring you directly to the Forge. However, on the odd occasion it doesn’t take you directly to our door, please enter ‘Garway Hill’. This should then direct you to the correct road. Keep a look out for our ‘Key’ logo signs too. View Oldfield Forge on a map.
At Oldfield Forge we believe in working with local businesses in order to offer you even more for your day. If you would like to learn more about what we can offer you in our area, please visit our blog for our local attraction activities. We have also built good relationships with surrounding campsites, B&B’s and hotels and have put together a list of the accommodation we recommend.
If you let us know what you are looking for we will be happy to send our suggestions.
We’ve been running our Experience Days for over a decade and at the time of writing we have had no accidents or injuries. Safety is our number one concern, closely followed by ensuring we give you a hands-on experience. All our blacksmiths have 100% focus on you at all times and we ask for equal respect for the advice they give. You will have a thorough briefing on arrival and be provided with the protective equipment you need.
Once you are in the Forge you will be shaping, hammering and moving very hot metal. During your Experience you are the blacksmith … but you’ll be reassured to know you will always be under the watchful eye of our own blacksmiths who are there to anticipate and prevent issues so you can relax and enjoy learning your new skills.
We tailor the day to suit each and every one of our guests.
Our friendly team will support you through your time as a blacksmith, promising to add charm and laughter in a very relaxed environment.
During your time with us you can choose to work to either work together and make something for the home or garden or, if you prefer, compete to see which of you is the best blacksmith. This package is ideal for a stress-free couples date!
The day is promised to bring lots of laughter and fun, making it the perfect way to spend time together!
Our Experience Days can be arranged to fit into a short away-break that will make the perfect gift for any occasion, be it a delightful romantic getaway or an awesome day out. We provide gift experiences to suit everyone.
After your blacksmithing experience with us (or indeed before if you have an afternoon booking), you can enjoy lunch in our woodland area or in our Scandinavian hut. Our local family-run pub delivers home-cooked meals all individually put together. There is a further charge for this. Alternatively, you are more than welcome to bring your own picnic lunch from home.
The beautiful rural location of the forge will make for an utterly unique and unforgettable day that you will be talking about for years to come!
