Courses suitable for beginners ~ One to one
tuition ~ Makes an ideal gift
Learn key Blacksmithing techniques whilst forging your own piece of art to take home
***Gift certificates available***
Book in for a Malham Smithy Blacksmith day course for beginners, focusing on learning key basic
techniques that are the foundation to all blacksmiths forge work, from a simple hook to an elaborate sculpture.
What will you do?
After a simple demonstration you will get straight into
having a go at forging with hammer and anvil. You will be guided to safely use the hand tools and incorporate design elements
into practical forge work. At the end of your forging day you can expect to take away a couple of pieces of your own
handcrafted forge work. First being your test piece for working on techniques which could take the form of an elegant hook
(or a bit of a twisted, split, tapered, punched, burnt scrap metal paperweight...) plus a finished piece such as a toasting
fork, poker or coat rack.
Who is the day suitable for?
The day course is aimed as
a one to one session, or a two person joint booking, for adults with no previous experience, allowing you to get the most
out of your time at the forge. The day is a physical one in a centuries old traditional forge and may not be suitable for
everyone. Contact the Malham Smithy if you have any injuries or disabilities before booking. Bookings cannot be taken for
people under 18.
When are the courses run?
Dates can be arranged with Malham Smithy,
both weekday and weekend courses are available. Dates can be booked at the time of purchasing via COURSE BOOKING DATES, or arranged at a later date if buying as a gift. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months and are available electronically. The timing for the day is a 10am start, finishing at 5pm. You will have a break for lunch, good food is available to purchase
in the village from The Buck Inn pub, The Lister Arms pub, the Old Barn Cafe and Beck Hall, all highly recommended. Alternatively
you can bring your own packed lunch to enjoy sat by the scenic beck that runs to the side of the smithy. Tea and coffee are
provided all day in the forge.
What to wear?
You
will be provided with safety equipment for the day, being apron, safety glasses and gloves. Wear overalls or old clothes that
you don't mind getting dirty or damaged, clothes should be natural fibres, cotton/denim, not synthetic and must
have full length trousers and long sleeves. You are required to wear safety boots, non steel toe caps worn at your own risk.
Workwear trousers and tops are available to purchase from the Malham Smithy. Advance notice of sizes required.
Blacksmithing for Beginners Course
Standard course costs (2017): Weekday one to one £170, weekday 2 person £290,
Saturday one to one £200, Saturday two person £330. Please note these
are one to one or two person courses, we do not add other participants to your booking.
Deposit payment required to secure a booking date, balance payable on the day of the course. Alternatively full
amount can be paid in advance.
Gift Certificates will be posted when a course payment is made without booking
a date - the recipient can then select a date on receipt.
Check available course dates here with the online bookings calendar:
One to One from £170/day Two People from £290/day
Exclusive gift package from £210 per person
Half day taster sessions £80 per person
Book in for a Malham Smithy Blacksmith day course for beginners, focusing on learning key basic techniques
that are the foundation to all blacksmiths forge work, from a simple hook to an elaborate sculpture.
Click
on the payment buttons above to make a secure payment via the PayPal website. Please note Annabelle Bradley
or the Malham Smithy does not see your card details at any point during the transaction.
Courses
are available as weekday or weekend options, for one or two people. Course fees are non-refundable,
however if you cannot attend a date booked we will endeavour to offer alternative dates, subject to reasonable
notice being given. Gift certificates are valid for 12 months.
Book your date now on the online booking calendar link
below, alternatively gift certificates will be issued for the recipient to book at a later date.
Exclusive Gift Package Option:
Alternatively
buy an Exclusive Gift Package for a truly unique present experience!
The exclusive gift package includes a personalised hand forged gift, posted
with a gift certificate card and details about their experience day course, for you to present as a gift. The personalised
gift will be stamped with wording of your choice (up to 12 letters). As the personalised gift is made to order,
please allow 4 weeks for delivery. The exclusive package also includes the option to book the course
date on a Saturday by request.
Half day Taster Session
Fancy a go in the forge but not sure if you can hammer for a full day? The Malham Smithy offers a half day taster session
of the Blacksmith Experience. The sessions are 3 hours and will be run with two people.
In these
sessions you will be taught blacksmithing techniques rather than making a piece to take away.
Course fees are non-refundable,
however if you cannot attend a date booked we will endeavour to offer alternative dates, subject to reasonable notice being
given.
Bookings are only taken for two people, we do not offer individual bookings for half day taster sessions. The taster sessions are on set days and the next available date is listed below. Taster sessions £80
per person
DATES FOR 2017 HALF DAY TASTER SESSIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Gift certificates
are not available for the half day taster sessions.
Course fees are non-refundable, however if you cannot attend a date booked we will endeavour to offer alternative dates, subject
to reasonable notice being given.
Prices valid for courses and gift certificates as at 14th September 2015
For general enquiries on the courses, please complete the form below.
Student Reviews
I loved this.
I have no gift for art whatsoever but that didn't put Annabelle off. She calmly explained what things I could damage (mainly
myself) and what things I shouldn't touch ("if you drop the piece you're working on, fight the instinct to grab
it, it will hurt") and spent the next few hours showing me how to make a curly hook and a bottle-opener with a slightly
wrong looking ram's head on top - the wrongness was all my doing as Annabelle's looked great. She makes a great brew
and advised that The Buck is welcoming of people in their work clothes, as well as being about twelve paces across the road
and serving Theakstones. Everyone I've told that I was doing/did this course has been/is jealous. Also quite amusing to
watch the punters come in look at me (I'm quite a big bloke) and then twig that the slim blonde next to me is actually
the one who knows what she's doing at the anvil and I'm the interloper. Great fun and hugely instructive.
Nick-July 2015
I had a Great
time with Lady Annabelle ...lol, even though I showed up in shorts and t-shirt I was lucky not to get any metal flakes on
me. By midday she had me make a bended curly hook, and Leaf keyring that turned out to be more a leaf paper weight...lol. Her forge is small and cozy and just opposite a pub and cafe. there is an easy atmosphere when working with her and you
also get the occasional walk in, looking at her work for sale and watching you work on your masterpiece..haha which for me
made it even more fun. after lunch I tried making a garden decoration.... which had me cursing and laughing... Annabelle
was patient and only stepped in when I found myself lost or unsure of my next step, otherwise she left me to my great struggle
and creative curse words (which was spoken using my inside voice).. I would greatly recommend this course and in fact
I plan to go again in the future. Thanks Annabelle
James
Henderson-June 2015
We agree with
everyone that Annabelle is an excellent, experienced and patient teacher, as well as an extremely skilled and creative blacksmith.
It was a wonderful course and an extraordinary, slightly surreal / magical interlude in our ordinary lives. However, we do
have our four solid handcrafted products (good enough to give away as presents) - and the knowledge of how we produced them
- to show for it ! We are also aching slightly from our exertions on yesterday's courses: it does mean standing up continually
for two 3-3.5 hour sessions, focusing on what your hammer and hot metal is doing ! Thanks again, Annabelle, for such an inspirational
and memorable experience.
Jeremy & Sylvia-June 2015
We had a great day in Malham at the Smithy, Chris's favourite birthday
gift so far! Annabelle is an excellent teacher, very patient & encouraging. And you start creating a project right away!
Definitely recommend to anyone wanting to try something different. Thanks Annabelle!
amy & chris- April
2015
My partner and I had a fantastic day in Malham with Annabelle, it was great to have one-on-one tuition
and we were really pleased with the amount we learnt during the day and the items we took home. Malham is a beautiful little
village and the pub we ate at was excellent. I would fully recommend this course, especially as a gift.
Carmen Mason-November 2014
A day to
remember and great value for money. Annabelle was an excellent tutor, being patient, motivating and inspiring me to turn my
ideas into reality by taking me through all the basic blacksmith skills. I would fully recommend this course for anyone keen
to use their hands to craft something genuinely unique in this character-filled smithy.
Philip Ray-November 2014
Brilliant course- excellent value for money! I completed a day course in October and thoroughly
enjoyed it. I made a few small projects which I am very pleased with & hope to build upon if I can. Hope to come back
to the forge in the new year if possible and see how much I can remember. Annabelle is extremely friendly and patient - an
excellent tutor! There are a couple of really nice pubs nearby and also a good cafe for lunch/dinner. B&B's are next
door and also a reasonably priced youth hostel if you need accommodation!
Craig-October 2014
Fantastic
course both I and my 16 year old son had a great time. In the morning we began by learning a number of basic blacksmithing
techniques which we used to make an ornate wall hook. Annabelle was an excellent tutor taking us through each step with patience
and enthusiasm. After a substantial lunch at the local pub we progressed to making in my case a rat tail toasting fork and
in my son's case a rams head hook. A great experience.
Stuart Hoare-September 2014
Buy a Gift Certificate for a truly unique Christmas present experience!
Malham Smithy Blacksmithing Course Gallery Thank you to all the visitors for the day
courses!
