The Finch Foundry is the only surviving water-powered forge in England and is insanely cool!
From 1814 it produced an array of metal items and at its peak it crafted 400 tools a day – shovels, scythes, sickles, wheels, horse shoes…
The three storey buildings at Sticklepath were built in the late 18th century and originally served as a woollen mill. The top floor (now gone) had wooden slatted windows to dry the hanging fabric. The rest was converted to a grist mill then altered again to a forge, saw mill, and wheelwright’s shop. Three delicious overshot waterwheels survive. Inside are multiple hearths, the two monster hammers, the cutters, a polishing wheel, a band saw and a grindstone.
It remained in operation until 1960, when the cob wall collapsed while the workers were in the pub across the road! The building was allowed to decay until it was rescued by the National Trust and semi-restored, but they were only interested after a certain Mr. F. Dibnah insisted upon its national importance! Just goes to show, not everyone holding the purse strings realise how much we value our industrial heritage, so if you love it – make a noise!
Don’t be shy, go and visit!
Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2NW.
The Finch Foundry is the only surviving water-powered forge in England and is insanely cool!
From 1814 it produced an array of metal items and at its peak it crafted 400 tools a day – shovels, scythes, sickles, wheels, horse shoes…
The three storey buildings at Sticklepath were built in the late 18th century and originally served as a woollen mill. The top floor (now gone) had wooden slatted windows to dry the hanging fabric. The rest was converted to a grist mill then altered again to a forge, saw mill, and wheelwright’s shop. Three delicious overshot waterwheels survive. Inside are multiple hearths, the two monster hammers, the cutters, a polishing wheel, a band saw and a grindstone.
It remained in operation until 1960, when the cob wall collapsed while the workers were in the pub across the road! The building was allowed to decay until it was rescued by the National Trust and semi-restored, but they were only interested after a certain Mr. F. Dibnah insisted upon its national importance! Just goes to show, not everyone holding the purse strings realise how much we value our industrial heritage, so if you love it – make a noise!
Don’t be shy, go and visit!
Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2NW.
