Dear Reader

Here at the Rural Skills Centre we not only provide courses for those who want to gain vocational qualifications. Some of our courses can also be of great interest to those with a more leisurely bent to their learning. 

One of our most popular courses that fits into this category is Blacksmithing & Ornamental Iron Work. Read on to find out more. 

Best Wishes

The courses run at the Rural Skills Centre are designed to cater for all levels of ability and experience. All courses lead to a certification either from the College or, where applicable, from recognised awarding bodies.

The courses are designed to complement academic studies, but are also designed to meet the needs of external students, whether businesses, employees or those that want to learn a new skill. 

Some of the Rural Skills Centre courses are run under the umbrella of Workshop Practices. One of the most popular of these is the Blacksmithing and Ornamental Iron Work.  

The course can be followed in two stages, Module 1 and Module 2 (although Module 2 is not compulsory). Module 1 teaches the basics of metal work, such as bending, twisting and cutting. Participants on the course will be able to create their own designs to take home with them.

Module 2 is a natural follow on to Module 1 and introduces new techniques such as forming and scrolling. With a typical class size of just six on both modules, every participant receives plenty of individual attention and there are only two people to each forge. The first part of the class is about lighting the forges, learning about how to heat the metal to the right temperature and what fuel is used in the forges. The rest of the day is given to practical work led by the experienced instructor. By the time the day finishes most participants will have an object that they themselves have worked, typically a firepoker or curtain rail. 

Getting onto the course requires no previous experience, and it's often people with an artistic bent who enjoy the course. There are those interested in sculpture, architects who are interested in continuing professional development, and young people learning heritage skills. Some simply wish to add decorative detail to their homes that they themselves have made. All will end up with a recognised qualification at the end. 

Other courses that come under the umbrella of Workshop Practices include Abrasive Wheels, which provides a comprehensive understanding of different types of machines and wheels; Sheet Metal Work, where participants leave with the basic skills of metal work; and five different modules in Welding, catering from novice level to the more experienced. Participants on the Blacksmithing and Ornamental Iron Work course often also take the Insight to Welding course to complement their skills.  

We can also run the course on a date to suit you! Come along with five of your colleagues or friends (the course can only be run if there is a full complement of participants) and, subject to instructor availability, we will run the course on a day to suit you. The day can be used as a unique team building exercise or fun corporate day out, or a chance to catch up with old friends who all share the same interest. Call us to find out more.