Introduction to Blacksmithing: Make a bottle opener
15th May and 17th July. Spend a day learning key blacksmithing skills, making a bottle opener to take home with you.
- Booking essential
After that all important chat about safety you'll get straight to work, learning key blacksmithing techniques and then putting them into practice. By the end of the day as well as having learnt the basics of blacksmithing, you’ll also have made a bottle opener to take home with you. If you pick up the basics quickly you can try more complex designs under the supervision of our master blacksmith.
This course is suitable for beginners, no prior blacksmithing experience is needed. For those who already have experience with blacksmithing we run an intermediate course - see our events listings for details.
Your tutor is David Gregory, an experienced master blacksmith whose work includes original commissions and a wide range of restoration projects. David also occasionally takes commissions for film and television productions. This course is limited to six participants to allow everyone plenty of time with the course tutor.
This course will run on 15th May and 17th July. There will be a break for lunch and a mess room to eat lunch in, alternatively there is an on-site café. Tea and coffee provided.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| Adult | £245.00 |
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| Young person (under 25) | £185.00 |
The basics
- Booking details
Call 0344 249 1895
- Suitability
Suitable for those 14 and over. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
- Meeting point
The Heritage and Rural Skills Centre is located in Coleshill village. Follow signs for the Coleshill Estate Office for the car park and look out for signs directing you to the forge.
- What to bring and wear
All tools and materials included. Aprons and safety glasses are all supplied. Please wear work clothes such as jeans, cotton sweatshirts and sturdy footwear - please do not wear fleeces or flip flops.
- Accessibility
Toilets on site, including accessible toilet. Level access into the teaching space. Some uneven surfaces such as cobbles due to the historic nature of the building. Please contact us if you require an accessible parking space or if you would like to have an informal chat about access before you book. Please bear in mind that this activity requires upper body movements.
- Other
Mess room available for course participants to use during breaks. Drinking water and facilities for making tea and coffee available. Refreshments/lunches available to purchase from on-site café.
Upcoming events
Gardening Course: The Cutting Garden
28 March and 30 May. In this course we will show you how to grow flowers from seed, how to harden them off so they are ready to embrace the change in temperature and give you a fabulous show all summer long.
Sold Out: Introduction to Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom
Sorry, this event is now sold out. 29 March: explore the art of weaving on a rigid heddle loom.
Sold Out: Introduction to Blacksmithing: Forge Your Own Garden Tools
Sorry, these events are now sold out. 4th April and 20th June. Spend a day learning key blacksmithing skills and forging your own set of garden tools.
Guided Tours: Secrets of Coleshill
Monthly from March to October: find out more about some of the lesser-known chapters of the estate’s history and look behind the scenes of the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.