The Forge & Pole and Hunt

The Forge & Pole and Hunt will be providing a unique experience, allowing you to be able to watch or have a try at the craft of blacksmithing. They will also demonstrate the relevance of their craft in the modern world and explain it’s importance in the 21st century. Find them in Workshop Row.

The Forge

A fully equipped smithy, able to accommodate four people working at any one time, will be open and hosting a variety of demonstrations throughout the day. These will cover knife making, axe making and other traditional techniques, explaining how these tools have been made over the centuries.

Demonstrations will be run from 11.00am -Midday and 2.00-3.00pm each day.

‘Have-a-go’ forging sessions will be run throughout the day on a first come basis. Available for beginners, each will last 10-15 minutes. During the session you will cover nail making and hook forging. We are afraid this is only available for over 16’s.

Pole and Hunt

Pole and Hunt is a collaboration between Alex Pole Ironwork and Holdsworth Hunt Knives.

Alex has been working as a blacksmith for over 25 years. He forges the knife blades from British high carbon steel and profiles the style ready to pass on to Ed for the next stage.

Ed, who has spent many years living in Spain and honing his skills as a knife maker, then heat treats, grinds and makes the handles individually for each knife.

Their knives are unique in that all materials are sourced from within the UK, as close to Alex’s forge or Ed’s workshop as possible, and are entirely made by themselves. They are currently working with apple wood from storm damaged trees found in the Burrow Hill Cider orchard (next to the forge).

Between them they make a wide range of both utility and chef’s knives and have a collection that will take you from field to fork.

There will be a wide range of products on sale at the Food Fair, just head over to The Forge. These will include chef’s knives from Pole and Hunt, kitchen utensils from FORGE KITCHENWARE and axes from Alex Pole Ironwork.