Set in the stunning North Devon countryside, just two miles from the startling, rugged coast and cliffs, sits Old Pound Smithy, a truly exceptional get-away that mixes unique luxury living spaces and glamping, with immersive creative experiences. This is the home of Artist Blacksmith, Bex Simon and her husband Dave. Together they have created Old Pound Smithy, a blacksmithing adventure like no oth
er. Prepare to walk into a world of bulging leather bellows feeding raging fires; steel, glowing red and orange; sparks popping from the cold face of an anvil. This is the world where you will create your own pieces of forged artwork, axes or knives, using the original traditional ways of the blacksmith from a time long ago. You might get hot, and possibly sweat a lot, your muscles will probably ache, and your hands may well blister, but you will not be sorry. By the end of your experience, you will have learnt how to control the burn and heat in a fire; to read the subtle signs of working hot steel; and to understand the intricacies of forging techniques… But, most importantly, you will have a deep-seated sense of satisfaction. Satisfaction derived from hours of laughter and learning; play and relaxation; nature and creativity. After grafting under fun expert tuition, you can head back to your luxury accommodation. The cabins will offer a sanctuary of peace, overlooking the small private lake, where you can soak away the days labour in a steaming bubbling hot tub or even melt away the pains in the treetop sauna, before possibly dining out at the award-winning Farmers Arms in the village, or cooking up your own feast on the BBQ or Fire. The Bell Tents and The Journeyman in Drifter’s Village present a more convivial environment where the shared facilities allow guests to eat together and chat around the firepit, discussing the days labours in the forge. If, after all this, you are still wanting more, and have energy to burn, why not go for a surf, at one of the nearby sandy beaches, or head out for a hike along the dramatic coastal path. There are many fantastic blacksmith courses out there, which are mostly provided by working smiths, in their working workshops, or in more formal teaching studios, and they are brilliant, after all, they are run by fellow smiths who are an amazing bunch. However, at Old Pound Smithy, we have created something different; a bespoke environment, tailored entirely towards providing the ultimate blacksmithing experience. The Smithy has been set up in the old Pole Barn; a gnarly building of corrugated sheet and old wooden beams, right in the heart of the site – just as the ancient smithies were in the centre of the village, the place villagers would come together around the warm forge. The teaching space has been set up with 6 anvils and leg vices and all the necessary hand tools and hammers. The students share a fire between two, and each of the fires are powered by a large set of bellows; so team work is key! You will learn to control your forging fire using these traditional bellows, and you will work together as Smith and striker to forge out your work. We provide a variety of blacksmith courses from one day taster experiences; three-day mid-week courses, for those wanting a more involved and technical project; and two-day weekend courses, for the perfect action filled getaway. Some of our courses combine different craft skills, such as the Axe making course, where we spend half of the time forging the axe head and the rest of the time making the handles. We have a team of fun and skilled smiths who will be teaching the different courses at different times. The courses and details will be posted on the bookings page well in advance, so ensure to book your places early. Course prices vary according to the number of teachers required to run each course.
