Annabelle Bradley at the Malham Smithy with Anita Rani
"This week on Countryfile Anita Rani travels to one of her
favourite places in the British countryside, Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales.
It's a precious
landscape that she's visited since growing up as a child in nearby Bradford. She learns more about this unique landscape
and how it was formed thousands of years ago. She meets an artist, Katharine Holmes, whose passion, like her mother's
and grandmother's before, is painting nearby Gordale Scar. She meets Anita in the pouring rain to show her her latest
work. In the village of Malham, Anita catches up with the latest incumbent of the local smithy. Annabelle Bradley used to
be a tax accountant, but when the smithy came up for lease she changed career and her life took a completely different direction.
Anita has been to Malham Cove many times, but she's never climbed the walls of this famous limestone amphitheatre - until
now. After a quick lesson she tackles one of the biggest challenges she's ever faced on the programme."
Malham Smithy Blacksmith, Annabelle Bradley, Features on ITV's 'Best Walks
with a View' with Julia Bradbury
Annabelle Bradley at the Malham Smithy with Julia Bradbury
Rams Head bottle openers and Malham Smithy hearts have been in
'hot' demand after featuring on ITV's 'Best Walks With a View' with Julia Bradbury in April 2016. The
television crew visited Annabelle Bradley at work in the Malham Smithy forging a rams head bottle opener for Julia Bradbury
to take away on her walk around Malhamdale.
The Malham Smithy blacksmith has featured in the press
and television frequently over the past few years, with Annabelle teaching the basics of forgework to Alex Jones on the One
Show and forging chandeliers on The Dales programme with Adrian Edmondson. Annabelle has recently had an exhibition in
the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre in Malham, which featured photographs of Annabelle at work on the anvil by Photographer
Shaun Richardson. The exhibition photographs are available to view in the Malham Smithy gallery.
Malham Smithy Blacksmithing Demonstrations
Agricultural
Shows
Annabelle Bradley at the Malham Smithy with Alex Jones at the Great Yorkshire Show
Annabelle Bradley from the Malham Smithy can be seen demonstrating
the craft of Blacksmithing at various shows during the summer.
2016 Dates: Great Yorkshire
Show - July
Sykehouse Show - Sunday 7th August
Malham Show - Saturday
27th August
Penistone Show - Saturday 10th September
Great Yorkshire Show 2016
Have a go at Blacksmithing at the Great Yorkshire Show
Annabelle Bradley takes on the role of Chief Steward for the Wrought
Ironwork Stand at the Great Yorkshire Show with support from the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
The
2016 show will built on the success of last year and the three days were packed full of events, not least in the Worshipful
Company of Blacksmiths marquee. There was an exhibition of traditional and contemporary blacksmithing from a variety of smiths,
plus demonstrations in the craft taking place throughout the show. Each day there was an opportunity to 'have a go'
at blacksmithing during our daily taster courses at the show. Details of advance bookings to take part in the courses for
2017 can be made on the mobile site m.blacksmithcourse.co.uk . If you would like to enter work into the exhibition, we
welcome entries from both professional smiths as well as budding amateur blacksmiths. Please get in touch to find out more.
We
are also looking for professional blacksmiths to come and spend time demonstrating on the forge with our resident team. For
further details please visit our mobile site m.blacksmithcourse.co.uk for further information.
Malham Show
Saturday - August Bank Holiday Weekend
Malham
Show is held annually in the heart of beautiful Malhamdale in the Yorkshire Dales on August Bank Holiday Saturday. Under the
shadow of Malham Cove this traditional agricultural and family country show has been taking place for over 100 years.
Look out on the Show Field
for Blacksmith Annabelle Bradley from Malham Smithy demonstrating to the public.
Penistone Show, Saturday 12th September 2015 Malham Smithy
has been demonstrating blacksmithing at the the Penistone since 2012. Show goers are welcomed again this year to
try their hand at blacksmithing under the guidance of Artist Blacksmith Annabelle Bradley. Look out for us on the show field
near the rural crafts tent.
Sykehouse Show, 2nd August 2015 A fantastic day in the sunshine, the 135th
Sykehouse Show was a really well organised and attended event where Annabelle Bradley provided blacksmithing demonstrations
and tuition to visiting adults and children alike.
Friends of Fryston Woods Community Event, July 2015 Annabelle Bradley provided
blacksmithing tuition to children at the Ferry Fryston Iron Age event. Children forged a wide variety of key charms,
hearts and door hooks to keep those bedrooms tidy!
Great Yorkshire Show 2015
New to the Show for 2015 - Blacksmithing
Taster Sessions Suitable for beginners with no previous experience, the sessions focused on learning the key
basic techniques that are the foundation to all blacksmiths forge work, from a simple hook to an elaborate sculpture.
After a simple demonstration students got straight into having a go at forging with a hammer and anvil. Participants
were guided to safely use the hand tools and incorporate design elements into practical forge work. The one hour taster
sessions were in groups of four to eight and participants were able to take away their very own piece of handcrafted forge
work.
North Yorkshire Open Studios 2014
The North Yorkshire Open Studios is a free event that combines culture, breathtaking views and a chance to
hone your navigation skills.
Each year, artists and makers across the whole of North Yorkshire invite the public into a host of intriguing spaces. From
hidden locations on the North Yorkshire Moors and harbourside huts in Whitby and Scarborough to suburban living rooms in Harrogate
and beautiful back gardens in the remote Yorkshire Dales.
With original works on show ranging from cutting edge
craft and design to contemporary sculpture, paintings and ceramics, there will be something to inspire everybody. This annual
event provides a great opportunity to buy or commission works for you, your home or your garden, as well as to discover the
rich seam of culture that runs through North Yorkshire's breathtaking landscape.
Christmas is on its way!! The Contemporary Craven Christmas exhibition showcasing
contemporary artists from Craven, featuring work from Artist Blacksmith Annabelle Bradley, started
in October and runs through to 21st December 2013 at the Craven Museum and Gallery, Town Hall, High
Street, Skipton, BD23 1AH.
Open every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Call in
to find that special Christmas present!
Penistone Show September 2013 Annabelle
Bradley once again provided blacksmithing demonstrations at the Penistone Show, happily aided on the bellows by visitors,
smithy volunteers and adjacent demonstrators! Show goers were welcomed to try their hand at blacksmithing under the guidance
of Artist Blacksmith Annabelle Bradley. 2014-04-28
The Contemporary Craven Christmas exhibition featuring Annabelle Bradley
from 17th October 2012 to December at the Craven Museum and Gallery
Penistone Show September 2012 With
a welcome break in the weather, the Penistone Show was bathed in sunshine in what seemed to be the hottest day of the year,
perhaps exaggerated by Annabelle spending the day at the show demonstrating forge work by a roaring fire in the baking
heat! No complaints about the sunshine from the Malham Smithy, that could be the last we see of it for this year, now back
to bailing out water from the Smithy!!
Disappointment as
the 2012 Great Yorkshire Show is cancelled after day one!
Visitors that managed to get to the show on Tuesday, despite the mud and downpours, were the lucky ones to avoid
the disappointment of it being cancelled at the end of the first day. As sad as we all felt to be leaving the show early,
after loading the forges and exhibits into our vans and being pushed off the field by a team of burly blacksmiths, we were
perhaps grateful that we hadn't been there for another two days worth of churned up mud. Had we stayed any longer, we
may have had to camp out until the weather improved and the field dried. Based on the summer so far, we could have been
waiting until September!
Fortunately the judging was carried out on Tuesday morning by Don Barker FWCB, Master
Blacksmith and Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. Malham Smithy's Rams Head Companion set on a twisted
horn stand won a third prize, and Malham Smithy's work experience student won a Special Prize Rosette awarded at the judge's
discretion for her presentation. More details of the work experience project to follow.
We look forward to next
year's show, keeping fingers crossed for a dry July 2013!
Rapha Tempest Festival celebrating the Tour de France
Featuring Up Cycle, Down Dale art installation by Annabelle Bradley
from the Malham Smithyat Broughton Hall Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th
July Annabelle created the concept of the landscape sculpture constructed entirely of recycled bicycle parts.
Visitors to the festival were invited to add elements to the installation under the guidance of Annabelle over two days. Children
let their imagination run wild creating a new breed of livestock for the Dales and the men threw on tyres!
The
contemporary sculpture was constructed of recycled materials and bicycle parts, capturing the spirit of the Tour de France
set in the Yorkshire Dales.
Broughton Hall Edwardian Fete for the Carers Resource August 2012 Annabelle Bradley was invited to demonstrate blacksmithing at the Edwardian Fete where the Yorkshire
Times and two young journalists made their debut television interview with Annabelle. Watch the clip online
The Great Yorkshire Show July 10, 11, 12th 2012
The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths sponsor
the Great Yorkshire Show and provide blacksmithing demonstrations to visitors to the show ground. In 2011 Annabelle Bradley
joined the team of blacksmiths, exhibiting work and demonstrating then became a Steward in 2012. Visitors are welcome
to come and try their hand at the forge making souvenir items to take away under the guidance of a resident blacksmith.
Skipton Sheep Day Sunday 1st July 2012 10am
to 4pm Annabelle Bradley
demonstrated traditional blacksmithing as part of the Sheep Day events on Skipton High Street.For further details visit the
Sheep Day events page.
Malham Safari
Spring bank holiday starting on Saturday 2nd June, daily until 7th June 2012
A
great day out for the whole family. The Malham Jubilee
Safari will be happening all around Malham and you are invited to come and join in the fun.
Kirkby Lonsdale Edwardian Weekend Saturday 6th & 7th September 2014 On the beautiful
setting of the Market Square, Annabelle Bradley provided blacksmithing demonstrations for the show over the two days. With
the sun shining and plenty of eager volunteers to come and try their hand at the craft, it was a great weekend spent in a
lovely town. A great chance to test out the new Malham Smithy Marquee and signs!! Nissan Wild West Family Fun Day
Sunday 24th August 2014
A fantastic event
provided for the Nissan staff, with cowboy and cowgirl entertainment, whipcracking, horseriding, lassooing, bucking bronchos and
not forgetting blacksmithing! Annabelle spent the day teaching visitors traditional blacksmithing skills to very enthusiastic
visitors, queues were still formed to 'have a go' when the show closed, but the bellows kept pumping to the very end
to make sure everyone got their chance!
Penistone Show September Annabelle Bradley
provides blacksmithing demonstrations at the Penistone Show, happily aided on the bellows by visitors, smithy volunteers and
adjacent demonstrators! Show goers were welcomed to try their hand at blacksmithing under the guidance of Artist Blacksmith
Annabelle Bradley.
North Yorkshire Open Studios 2012
2013
A free annual
event that combines culture, breathtaking views and a chance to hone your navigation skills. Artists and makers across the whole of North Yorkshire will invite the public into a host
of intriguing spaces. From hidden locations on the North Yorkshire Moors and harbourside huts in Whitby and Scarborough to
suburban living rooms in Harrogate and beautiful back gardens in the remote Yorkshire Dales. Featuring Artist
Blacksmith Annabelle Bradley from the Malham Smithy Visit www.nyos.org.uk for further details.
North Yorkshire Open Studios NYOS11 Featuring Artist BlacksmithAnnabelle Bradley from
the Malham Smithy Visit www.nyos.org.uk for further details.
ITV1's The Dales, 2011 series featured Malham Blacksmith, Annabelle Bradley.
Malham Smithy Television
Premiere!
The summer months of 2011 have
seen the Malham Smithy put into the limelight as Blacksmith Annabelle Bradley has been followed at work by a documentary film
crew.
Following the success of ‘The Lakes', presented by Rory McGrath and broadcast in 2010, ITV1 commissioned
Shiver Productions to make two prime-time series for summer 2011 celebrating life in the North of England. The Lakes
will returned for a second series, whilst it's new companion series ‘The Dales', fronted by
Adrian Edmondson, focused on life in one of the North of England's most picturesque areas as experienced through the eyes of people who live and work there.
‘The Dales'
has followed the lives of a number of characters in the Yorkshire Dales this Summer, one being Malham resident and
village blacksmith Annabelle Bradley.
The production team followed Annabelle through
the trials of completing a project of making three large scale bespoke chandeliers for local hostelry, The Buck Inn at Malham. Not without complications, the project was completed and all three were
installed in the public lounge bar and snug, filmed by crew Yvette Lyons and Kate Walker from Shiver Productions.
Each year, artists and makers across the whole of North Yorkshire invite the public into a host of intriguing spaces. From
hidden locations on the North Yorkshire Moors and harbourside huts in Whitby and Scarborough to suburban living rooms in Harrogate
and beautiful back gardens in the remote Yorkshire Dales. 
