mgoulds Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Hi Everyone, I am a film maker at university based in London. We are currently making a documentary about Autumnal British Traditions. As i'm sure you all know St Clement is the patron saint of blacksmiths and his feast day is coming up! - November 24th. I've been reading about blacksmithing traditions such as Firing the Anvil / Foundry Day and was wondering if anyone knew of any events take place this year, 2012. A special mention has been made of the day at Finch Foundry in Devon. Has anyone ever been? If so, when was your first time? The idea of the documentary is to explore the past traditions through the present - so any old stories about St Clement's day anyone may have (or be able to ask their older blacksmithing relatives) would be much appreciated. I'd very much appreciate anything anyone has to say! Looking forward to hearing from you, Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Well he's one of *several* patron saints of blacksmithing; also on tap: Brigid of Ireland, Dunstan, Eligius We smiths needed all the help we could get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Welcome aboard M, glad to have you. If you put your general location in your header you may be pleasantly surprised to find out how many folk on IFI are within visiting distance. You want to fire your anvil? Isn't it showing up for work? Is it back talking you? If you fire it I'll take a job application from it for consideration. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 I doubt very much you will find anyone in Britain 'firing' an anvil. Playing with explosives and other things that go bang are very much frowned on by the police and a whole host of other government bodies over here. Even reenactors have to jump through hoops to be able to fire replica weapons that have been proofed and licensed - under two inch bore and over 24 inch barrel length is a shotgun license if I remember correctly, less than 24 inches and 2 inch or up is a class one fire arms. Any thing else you can pretty much forget. Your best bet is to talk nicely to our American cousins and see if any of them has footage of an anvil being fired you could use. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgoulds Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 Oh ok, thanks guys. So no one's ever been to any St Clements day 'celebrations' or annual blacksmithing events? or for example this event at Finch Foundry? Shame about health and safety Wayne! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Hi mgoulds, Speak to John B on here. They have done anvil firing at Finch Foundry, I recall reading about it. I plan to go to the event this November 24th. Sorry I can't be of more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 mgoulds, Your link is broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Its all been posted before, that's why there's a search facility.Search and ye shall find http://www.iforgeiro...at-sticklepath/ Saturday 24th November 2012, the great snail race is on again, and the anvil will be "fired", (we don't do redundant, we like to keep 'em alive.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I always think of St. Dunstan of the 10th century, who grabbed the devil by the nose with red hot tongs and expelled him from his shop, which is why the devil doesn't hang around smithies. A British book on blacksmiths' and farriers' lore is "The Village Blacksmith" by Ronald Webber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.