Finch Foundry - National Trust

Finch Foundry - National Trust Finch Foundry is the last working water powered forge on the mainland UK. We welcome feedback – both positive and negative. It helps us to learn and grow.

Welcome to the official page for Finch Foundry National Trust.

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Tool of the Week:Devon Cleaver, used for cutting meat. The top blade by the tip of the cleaver is presumed  to be used f...
07/08/2026

Tool of the Week:

Devon Cleaver, used for cutting meat. The top blade by the tip of the cleaver is presumed to be used for splitting bone. The one in the collection has been stamped with 'I & J Finch', therefore indicating it was actually made on the site, during the time when Isaac and John Finch ran the business.

The larger trip hammer weighs about 1.5 tonnes. We don't run it anymore, but it is said you could hear it up to 2 miles ...
05/08/2026

The larger trip hammer weighs about 1.5 tonnes. We don't run it anymore, but it is said you could hear it up to 2 miles away. Unfortunately, the running of this hammer caused the building to collapse in 1960, bringing an end to the business.

See it in person at Finch Foundry. Book a guided tour at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

02/08/2026

Road closures around Finch Foundry 3-14 August.

Access to Finch Foundry during these dates:

Finch Foundry closed Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 August.

On Wednesday 5 August access from the A382 at Whiddon Down (no access from Okehampton direction).

Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August - access possible from Okehampton on B3260, you will need to drive through the roadworks.
- Stop and let workers know where you are going
- Put hazard lights on
- Speed limit of 5mph through the closure
- Be prepared for the possibility of a short delay

From Saturday 8 August access from Okehampton on B3260 (no access from Whiddon Down direction)

Guided tours are running Wednesday to Sunday, we recommend booking to guarantee a space https://bit.ly/FinchFoundry

Tool of the week:The Finch family would even make tools for domestic applications. This one for instance is a Devon Pota...
31/07/2026

Tool of the week:

The Finch family would even make tools for domestic applications. This one for instance is a Devon Potato Chopper. To differentiate it from the Cornish counterpart, it has a raised arc at the end of the blade. This is used to specifically chop potatoes, and the swan neck handle makes is easier to chop the vegetables in a pan. Can you remember seeing one in your kitchen as a child?

Finch Foundry is open Wednesday to Sunday for guided tours only. Book is recommended at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

This is the fan wheel. It only produces about 1 or 2 horsepower, and processes nearly 2,000 litres of water per minute. ...
29/07/2026

This is the fan wheel. It only produces about 1 or 2 horsepower, and processes nearly 2,000 litres of water per minute. This one turns all the time and drives a fan in the forge to provide air to the different fires. The Finch family installed this in the mid 19th century. Before they had this installed, they would have young apprentices, about 12 years old, pumping bellows at the fires to provide them with air.

See it in person at Finch Foundry. Guided tours run Wednesday to Sunday and you can book at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

Tool of the week:This is a Barley Hummeller. Before threshing machines were invented, there would be gangs of men travel...
24/07/2026

Tool of the week:

This is a Barley Hummeller. Before threshing machines were invented, there would be gangs of men travelling around the countryside with these to remove the whiskers from barley.

To see this and many other unusual tools, visit Finch Foundry. Tours run Wednesday to Sunday, booking is recommended at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

Tool of the week:A w**d puller, also know as a Daisy Grubber or Daisy Dibber. This fork like instrument is used to pull ...
17/07/2026

Tool of the week:

A w**d puller, also know as a Daisy Grubber or Daisy Dibber. This fork like instrument is used to pull small w**ds out of the ground. The small circular plate is used to facilitate leverage.

See this tool and many others at Finch Foundry. Open for guided tours Wednesday to Sunday. Booking advised at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

15/07/2026

Finch Foundry's biggest waterwheel! This beast processes a whopping 20,000 litres of water per minute. We have to be careful about how much water we use, so we can only run it for a few minutes at a time for demonstrations.

See it with your own eyes at Finch Foundry. Open Wednesdays to Sundays for guided tours. Booking recommended at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

Tool of the week:This week we will be looking at a brake shoe for a cartwheel. The base is slightly concave and restrict...
10/07/2026

Tool of the week:

This week we will be looking at a brake shoe for a cartwheel. The base is slightly concave and restricts the rocking motion of a cart wheel whilst loading, unloading or stationery.

See this and much more at Finch Foundry. Open Wednesday to Sunday for guided tours. Booking recommended at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/finch-foundry

Address

Sticklepath
Okehampton
EX202NW

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