Royal Bath and West Show Metalwork Feature and Competitions

[John B]

This year’s Blacksmiths Feature adjacent to the Farriers section has been the last one, and the organisation responsible have withdrawn funding for the blacksmiths side, and expanding the farriers presence.

For many years, the competitions have been a qualifying round of the prestigious National Blacksmiths Competition in the UK, and contributed to  raising awareness of the blacksmiths craft, promoting local blacksmiths, and bringing top class competitors so other 'smiths can study and learn from their methods of working, the Worshipul Company of Blacksmiths, and  the NBCC would like to see this hard earned privilege continue

I know there are people on this site who have stands at the Show, and I would like to hear from them if they have any thoughts upon the matter, and would like to put some input into what the future holds for the feature at the show.

Initially funds will have to be raised to cover costs incurred. The Royal Bath and West Society have agreed to supply an indoor area in the Dulverton Pavilion, and an outdoor area in the Woodlands and Conservation area where the other blacksmith’s stands are located.

The Blacksmiths and Metalworkers Association of the South West have agreed to initially try to keep the feature functioning, and we already have members in the area, we have also agreed with the RB&W Society that we can use the forging facility to enable us to raise the funds necessary by whatever means we have to, ideal for courses, forge-ins and masterclasses. 

This new situation will involve complete consideration and improvements to make the feature more attractive to the public, the participants and the local blacksmiths with stands there, and that is why we need you, and your input it is your local show, and we are there to support you.

The new group to be responsible for the event could be totally independent, or as a sub group of the BMASW, our aims are the same as at Westpoint, that is to ensure that there is a Metalwork Feature for the public to enjoy, and to promote blacksmithing in general, and more specifically locally.

I feel the time has also come to consider that the old traditional idea of blacksmithing is looking somewhat jaded, and the public whilst liking to see the "old stuff" are looking for more contemporary and modern metalwork items to suit the current times and the fashions we are going through, and possibly participate in the forging experience either at the show or elsewhere.

We need to get this moving quite quickly so if you can register your interest, then we can arrange for a meeting at the Forge at the showground to hear what your opinions are and how we can put them into effective use, all ideas will be considered, and volunteers will be needed with paperwork and stewarding.

The only items we will be keeping will be required to be a qualifying round for the National Blacksmiths Competition, and that is as simple as a Live Forging Class, and a Static Class.

Regard it as a marketing opportunity, any methods go, the public pick out what they like, and that is drastically different from an entry judges on technical standards, so work with us and help raise awareness all round..

Contact me as soon as possible please, it will be going ahead, and as it's for the local smith's benefit mainly, it would be best for the local smiths to run it for themselves, with the benefit of back up if needed,