St Clems Day at Sticklepath

[John B]

Always a great day out for blacksmiths, families and friends. Come and have a play and sell some of your hand made items

FINCH FOUNDRY - SAINT CLEMENTS DAY

SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER

Blacksmiths from all over the country will be at Finch Foundry to practice their art and celebrate their patron saint, Saint Clement, in the traditional manner. This includes the spectacular ‘firing of the anvil’ with gunpowder.

Entry to the foundry and Christmas shop is free.

The day is a rare opportunity to gain an insight into this highly skilled craft and to see some of the country’s top craftsmen in competition. They will be producing test pieces that are judged at the end of the day. Some will be demonstrating the unique water-powered Trip Hammers in the Foundry, to help recreate the atmosphere of a Victorian working forge. The day starts at 10.30am with the Forge breakfast and continues until 4.30pm, work being interspersed with anvil firing and entertainment from our local Morris dancers.

This year, for the first time we shall be holding ‘The Great Snail Race’. This is a competition in which the blacksmiths have to forge a Sticklepath snail in the shortest possible time.
Come along and cheer on your favourite blacksmith, will the winner come from Devon?

Some competition pieces from previous St Clem's Days

Roger Boney, Custodian at Finch Foundry, says “St Clement’s Day is the main highlight in our calendar at Finch Foundry. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see and meet blacksmiths demonstrating their craft in such a unique historical setting and to cheer on the snail making.”

[Ian]

Hi John, do you have any photo's or a drawing of this snail?

[John B]

Hi Ian,
As far as I know the Great Snail Race involves, and entails making 'a snail' in the shortest possible time from a piece of material supplied.

No design criteria as long as it can be identified as a snail

There is a snail in the picure 3 bottom right hand corner from a demo someone did some years ago,

There is also another competition where youbring your own materials and make something (Nothing specified as far as I am aware, will check on this, ) no time limit but bear in mind some of the forges leave a bit to be desired as 'working' forges and it starts at about 10.30 and finishes about 4.30 due to lack of lighting in the main workshop area

Contact Roger Boney at Finch Foundry for further details or to indicate you will be coming, so adequate supplies of Bacon baps and ale can be on hand (free to participants) his number is 01837 840046 or email roger.boney@nationaltrust.org.uk

[beth]

looks interesting john - might be able to come ans see - would love to look at that big hammer and theold workshop...

[John B]

It is Interesting Beth, and you can have a play on the old forges, that could test your fire skills and patience, or we have some forges outside where you can impress us with your new found firewelding skills that you are going to find on the toolmaking course.

You can even join in the Great Snail Race (material supplied) and/or The other competition which is to make a candlestick of your own design, no time limit and you bring your own materials and tools.

Or just enjoy the day and meet other blacksmiths, guild members and interested parties.

[John B]

Just a reminder for those interested, Next Saturday the 19th is the open Day Material for The Great Snail race will be 12mm / 1/2" diameter I am lead to believe, Roger Boney, the custodian and long time organiser of the event will be retiring after this years event , so it would be nice to give him a good send off and to see what will be happening when he leaves. There will be extra forges outside if anyone wants to play, bring your own materials as spare supplies may be limited. Probably able to borrow some tools thogh. Bacon butties on from about 9.00 ish. beer all day.

[beth]

john, as usual i cant come!! so frustrating - i have on that very day (this shows you how busy it is with my lot- all on one day!!) a 50th birthday party, a 40th birthday party, and my god daughters birthday bike ride - theres no way i will even manage all of that properly. so silly. i will have to hear all about it i guess - i want to see that gunpowder thing too... :(

[TomN]

A shame that its not closer, or I would have come along for the day.

[John B]

Probably the best St Clems day we have done so far, A really nice day weatherwise with loads of visiting 'smiths and the general public who have come from far and wide.

As this was to be Roger Boney (The Custodian of Finch Foundry) last St Clems before retiring next year, we had a bit of a presentation in appreciation of and to thank him for efforts in making us all so welcome at the event,

Started off with the usual bacon and egg butties, uncorking the beer cask, and firnig the anvil.

During the day filming was taking place for a BBC documentary series to be show on BBC channel 4 sometime entitled (we think) Handmade in Britain, will be intersting to see what is made of it.

Here are som pics from the day, of the competition pieces. The competition was to "Make a recognisable snail in the quickest time" which ended in a head to head rerun between a couple of the quickest competitors, finally won by Brian Collis from Dorset.

The candlehoder competition being won by Richard Jones from Somerset.

Judging of the competition was done by Carol, a member of the National Trust staff, the winning piece being the one she liked the best.

Here are some pics,
As you can see someone interpreted the snail race as a "S"nail race ( There is always a comedian around at this event)

[beth]

that looks like a good day john! - so glad you had lovely weather - really sorry to have missed the anvil genie, looks like fun! as do the 'speedy snails' - nice to see some kids in the photos too - fabulous what kind of things did the documentary makers want to know? will definately have to look out for that one - do you know when they are planning to screen? great to have the work in a high profile programme... i do hope you were interviewed john ? :)