Traditional & contemporary craft courses in north Wales
handmade by you in
wernog wood
Blacksmithing - an introduction to the forge
See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below
Award winning Rich Jones from Heat & Beat will guide you through the ancient skills of blacksmithing, learning the elementary techniques needed to form and forge steel.
In 2024, Rich will be offering sessions of varying length, from a four hour taster day up to a full two days. On each of these courses you will make simple but beautifully crafted items for everyday use and a memory that will stay with you forever. Using hammers, traditional hand tools and a forge, you will learn about upsetting your metal and drawing it down, chiselling, doming and using the horn of your anvil to forge various shapes into your hot steel.
See course dates below for details of design options. These simple but challenging designs will give you plenty to learn.
2 March 2024 - 1/2 day
Wall hooks or Celtic swirl pendant (am or pm session)
4 hour blacksmithing taster session (9am - 1pm or 1.30pm - 5.30pm)
3 March 2024 - 1 day
Fire poker
20-21 April 2024 - 2 day
Door knobs or knockers
16 November 2024 - 1/2 day
Bottle openers or hanging basket bracket (am)
Wall hooks or Celtic swirl pendant (pm)
4 hour blacksmithing taster session (9am - 1pm or 1.30pm - 5.30pm)
17 November 2024 - 1 day
Fire poker
1/2 day courses - 4 hour taster session
£120 (inclusive of materials)
Tea, coffee and cake included in your course price
1 day courses - £165
(plus £30 course materials)
Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price
2 day course - £300 - Tuition fees
(plus £50 course materials)
Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price
We also offer accommodation & evening meals
Click here to see what we offer
This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with experience
Rich Jones is an artist blacksmith from Heat & Beat in Dyserth, North Wales. His blacksmithing began in Llandudno & then Herefordshire College of Blacksmithing. On completing his studies, he did his Journeyman in Gdansk, Poland & later in France. He returned to an apprenticeship in Wales before setting up his own company in 2000.
Since establishing Heat & Beat, Rich has produced a huge range of work from public art commissions to bespoke gates, railing and restoration. The distinctive style of his work draws its inspiration from nature’s forms and shapes, which he combines with his love of geometric forms and structure.
His work can be seen at various well-known landmarks along the Clwydian Range in north Wales. These include an all-seeing crow perched on simple gate leading up to the iron-age fort of Castell Dinas Brân; and the benches and gates on Moel Famau, just a hill or two from Wernog Wood… and of course many more…
Stories from our students
We had a great time on the blacksmith course. I can’t believe we made something so beautiful. It was hard work for me but very rewarding and fascinating to see how the whole process transformed such a hard material into something beautiful and useful. Rich was a great teacher very knowledgeable, encouraging and guided us through the whole experience. Wernog Wood craft centre is a warm and welcoming, nurturing place and I would definitely recommend and would love to try some of the other courses too. Thanks to the team there for a fantastic weekend - Aillie
Ridiculously pleased with myself - thank you for an amazing experience. If you ever get the chance to do something at Wernog Wood - do it!
- Nicky
We had a fantastic two days supported by Rich who was patient, supportive and knowledgable.
Claire thank you for the organisation and delightful alfresco lunches.
We also met new friends from throughout North Wales and the South of England.
Diolch yn Fawr - Wendy
When Rich said we were going to make a poker like that we couldn't believe it, but we did. About 12 different processes of beating and twisting and pounding.
Thoroughly inspired by our tutor Rich. He had a way of skilfully tweaking and overseeing our work as we did it so that we produced a good quality item whilst feeling it was all our own work.
Brilliant fun and an awesome place - Clare
Upcoming Dates
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