BLACKSMITHS from all over the South West gathered at the National Trust’s Finch Foundry in Sticklepath last Saturday (November 24).

Once a year, they congregate at the foundry to practise their art and celebrate their patron saint, St Clement, harking back to medieval tradition. 

The foundry, which is the last working water-powered forge in the country, was the scene for the gathering, which included a rare chance to see the spectacular ‘firing of the anvil’.

The St Clement’s day event is an annual opportunity for the public to get an insight into this highly skilled craft, now practised by only a handful of people, as well as see some top blacksmiths in competition. The anvil is fired, then throughout the event it is possible to see the blacksmiths at work making competition pieces, which are judged at the end of the day.

The anvil was fired regularly and the blacksmiths were kept busy working on their competition pieces, which were judged at the end of the day.

This year the event held ‘The Great Snail Race’. The competition sees the competing blacksmiths have to forge a ‘Sticklepath Snail’ in the shortest possible time. The best snail prize went to Julian Baycock.

The best item produced award went to Simon Hall and the fastest snail was Jeremy Cash in six minutes, 19 seconds.

Ben Shapcott, foundry manager, said: ‘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.’ 

Pictures by James Bird.