Finch Foundry
Finch Foundry
4.5
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About
Sticklepath, Devon, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
261 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
73
Average
14
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Vix
Cheltenham, UK23 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Loved this place, water powered industrial heritage. We booked for a tour on our way to our holiday. We booked a later tour just in case we got held up on the motorway, they fitted us in an hour earlier as we faced no hold ups. It wouldn't have been a problem if not as there is a woodland walk and we would have eaten our picnic earlier.
The forge has some waterpowered equipment still working and this was demonstrated by our competent guide who also was a wealth of information on the history of the site with stories about the family who owned the forge. The tour took about an hour and we spent 2 hours on site including our picnic.
We have passed signs on the A30 many times but as booking is required we have never been organised enough to book before now, it was well worth the effort of booking.
We enjoyed our trip and calling off somewhere on the way to your holiday destination is like having an extra days holiday.
The forge has some waterpowered equipment still working and this was demonstrated by our competent guide who also was a wealth of information on the history of the site with stories about the family who owned the forge. The tour took about an hour and we spent 2 hours on site including our picnic.
We have passed signs on the A30 many times but as booking is required we have never been organised enough to book before now, it was well worth the effort of booking.
We enjoyed our trip and calling off somewhere on the way to your holiday destination is like having an extra days holiday.
Written 21 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert C
Bideford, UK56 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Very interesting visit to Finch Foundry.
Unfortunately the launder was awaiting repair so the foundry was not actually working which is the only reason it’s not got top marks . Hopefully it will soon be fully functioning again.
Peter gave an excellent guided tour & did his best to explain what it’s like when the forge is operational including sound effects !
Also a pretty garden with lovely lupins.
Unfortunately the launder was awaiting repair so the foundry was not actually working which is the only reason it’s not got top marks . Hopefully it will soon be fully functioning again.
Peter gave an excellent guided tour & did his best to explain what it’s like when the forge is operational including sound effects !
Also a pretty garden with lovely lupins.
Written 24 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
husdaddoc
Sherborne, UK7 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We were a big family group of 10 and were shown around by Tamsyn.
One of our group had said before we went ‘a Foundry? I couldn’t be less interested.’
After the tour she said ‘I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was the best thing!’
Tamsyn is a brilliant communicator- her enthusiasm for the place was clear and she won us over and got us thinking and talking for ages.
This place is unique- the last of thousands of rural water powered forges which were once everywhere, enabling efficient production of the cutting tools which were needed in pre industrial revolution agriculture and highlighting a time before fossil fuels where water was everything.
Remarkably this massive machine is still working, creaking, flapping and spinning its flywheels and belts to order via the sluicegates from the overhead leat of water.
Honestly it’s brilliant.
We loved it.
One of our group had said before we went ‘a Foundry? I couldn’t be less interested.’
After the tour she said ‘I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was the best thing!’
Tamsyn is a brilliant communicator- her enthusiasm for the place was clear and she won us over and got us thinking and talking for ages.
This place is unique- the last of thousands of rural water powered forges which were once everywhere, enabling efficient production of the cutting tools which were needed in pre industrial revolution agriculture and highlighting a time before fossil fuels where water was everything.
Remarkably this massive machine is still working, creaking, flapping and spinning its flywheels and belts to order via the sluicegates from the overhead leat of water.
Honestly it’s brilliant.
We loved it.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
duncanW00
Crieff, UK682 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Finch Foundry is definitely worth a visit, first of all the car park entrance is very tight if you have a large car it’s quite narrow and low so bare that in mind. Once your in it’s a wonderful look back to the old ways of metal working, it’s incredibly interesting and brought to life with the help of NT volunteers as always. Our volunteer was Jack, a real great character who in his eighties was still as fit and funny as any guy half his age a credit to this NT site. Even though it was a little wet on the day it didn’t spoil our enthusiasm visiting Finch Foundry. The shop is very nice and the toilets are very clean, a small coffee shop is excellent. All in all it’s a NT site you must visit, it’s lovely.
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mr Manners
4 contributions
Jun 2021
What a gem. A forge, run by water wheels in the lovely village of Sticklepath. Seeing the wheels and machinery working, uncluding the massive hammers was great. The grounds were very pretty too. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and the NT team there including Chris, our guide were friendly, very knowledgeable, and welcoming. Good to see such an important part of common peoples history preserved. We will return
Written 28 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vi c
Fareham, UK695 contributions
Apr 2023
We both really enjoyed our visit here yesterday. The need to book for a guided tour became obvious ~ it’s a relatively small operation and you need help to get the most from coming here. Our guide, Kate was very knowledgeable and clearly likes to share her experience with visitors. We learned quite a bit about the operation of this particular forge and how its success impacted on the local community back in the day. Despite the fact that it was raining we still had a good time. The gardens are nice too and there is an interesting Quaker burial ground adjacent to the site. Thank you to everyone involved in the running and upkeep of this unique place.
Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R1chardN
Surbiton, UK628 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
This was an incredibly interesting visit. Although it is called a foundry it is a forge as the raw metal was bought in and the tools were forged from it.
Much of the machinery is working and we had a demonstration of how some worked. I find it truly fascinating to witness old machinery in action.
The whole team appear to be very knowledgable and our guide, Peter, was very good and helped bring the tour to life.
Much of the machinery is working and we had a demonstration of how some worked. I find it truly fascinating to witness old machinery in action.
The whole team appear to be very knowledgable and our guide, Peter, was very good and helped bring the tour to life.
Written 31 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AliAnd
Salisbury, UK110 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
We decided to visit as we were passing on our way home from Cornwall.
Visit took about an hour & was most interesting thanks to the guided tour by Frank who was extremely knowledgeable about the forge and it’s context. We even had a demonstration of some of the machinery. Highly recommended.
Visit took about an hour & was most interesting thanks to the guided tour by Frank who was extremely knowledgeable about the forge and it’s context. We even had a demonstration of some of the machinery. Highly recommended.
Written 29 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike_G2002
Dorset, UK2 contributions
Feb 2020
A forge, established in Victorian times, which turned iron bars into finished tools using water power - trip hammers, several blacksmiths' hearths, an adjoining carpenter's shop and grinding wheel. Includes a small museum up steps (take care), a visitors' shop and small cafe (closed over the lunch period). Very informative talks at intervals during the day from an enthusiastic member of the National Trust. Provides a stark constrast to the Trust's larger properties. Very narrow car park entrance, however several quite large 4x4s were parked up.
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CAROLINE B
62 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Thoroughly enjoyable visit, a very interesting historical forge.
Special thanks to our guide Martyn, he was very friendly, informative and knowledgeable.
Pretty garden and picnic area with pubs and tea shop nearby.
Don't think about it, just go 🙂
Special thanks to our guide Martyn, he was very friendly, informative and knowledgeable.
Pretty garden and picnic area with pubs and tea shop nearby.
Don't think about it, just go 🙂
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this attraction mainly indoors? We're looking for something to do on a rainy day!
Written 16 August 2019
Not really , the covered area is quite limited, to get the most from here you need to explore the walk
Written 30 October 2019
Do they have talks/demonstrations on every day? We're visiting on Friday 11th August? Thanks
Written 17 July 2017
As far as I know they do, they have them at set times during the day and will give you the times when you arrive.
Written 6 August 2017
Can you recommend the tea room for lunch?
Written 5 September 2015
We only had a cup of tea , but beware , Do Not try the pub over the road , it was disgusting and dirty
Written 6 September 2015
Dogs are welcome in all areas except for the tea room. If the weather is good you can sit outside with your dog in the garden adjacent to the outdoor tea room. I don't know if there is anywhere to tie your dog whilst you order refreshments, but as the tea room is in a small conservatory style outbuilding it would be possible to speak to staff from the door and order food!
Written 12 June 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.