Holkham Forge

Holkham Forge I am one of a trio of Artist Blacksmiths working out of Holkham Forge on the Holkham Estate in North

We are the current link in the chain of an old lineage of Norfolk village blacksmiths who produce beautiful hand-forged metalwork for local people. We each have our own spirit and style and our individual passions, expertise and vision are focussed through our shared creative ethos of simplicity, beauty and utility. Our work is both strong and lyrical and is produced in partnership with our custom

ers. Each piece is individual and each unique whether it be a commission for the home, a piece of sculpture or the restoration of an historic item. We also run bespoke courses for those who want to experience our ancient craft first-hand.

There's been more amazing coverage of the  Royal Palace Reborn during the second episode of the new  Great British Castl...
29/03/2026

There's been more amazing coverage of the Royal Palace Reborn during the second episode of the new Great British Castle Rescue (about 28 mins in).

I thought it might be a nice idea to collect some of the links to media pieces on the castle and the doors in particular, for those who might be interested.

Obviously, first up is the Full length documentary by still on Channel 4:

 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-castle-rebuilding-history

Next is the first in a series of stand alone pieces focusing on the project in more detail. It follows the forging of the ironwork with new sections of forging and interviews that aren't included in the documentary above:

https://youtu.be/8UV0_1PRhhg 

Eye Film Shorts on YT featuring different parts of the ironwork making:

https://youtube.com/shorts/OBEd34UGZmY

https://youtube.com/shorts/7y9WoXsrDsM

https://youtube.com/shorts/8_IUMTjJkSY

Finally, Front Row on Radio 4 had the first 15mins of their 12th August 2025 episode reviewing the recently reopened Keep:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002gzzy

If anyone has other pieces that can be included to create a more comprehensive list we'd love to hear from you.

National Heritage Ironwork Conference 2024, Hampton Court Palace.
01/11/2024

National Heritage Ironwork Conference 2024, Hampton Court Palace.

Perhaps the secret to it all is listening… I’d never been to a National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) event, despite being a blacksmith for approaching 20 years. Recent questions regarding heritage ironwork projects had brought me into contact with the amazing NHIG co-ordinator Jessica Renison,...

For you to see who don't follow on IG - Copied from Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery Instagram Feed...  🔥🔥🔥For our fi...
03/09/2024

For you to see who don't follow on IG - Copied from Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery Instagram Feed...

🔥🔥🔥For our first Medieval Monday of September, this reel comes to you fresh from the forge!

The central section of the forged steel for the Bigod tower door is now complete and ready for tinning.

Here blacksmith James Spedding of Holkham Forge in North Norfolk shows us the metalwork laid out on his workbench. Check out the intricate knots and braiding which James and Roger have created from a design based on medieval ironwork from Raveningham Church, in South Norfolk.

The steelwork will now be sent away to be ingot tinned, right down to the nail heads that hold it all together.

Design by architects working with our Academic Advisory Board and curatorial team as part of the Royal Palace Reborn project, generously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Link to a short piece about the Dragon Gate of Burnham Norton.
24/08/2024

Link to a short piece about the Dragon Gate of Burnham Norton.

We've recently finished a new entrance gate for St Margarets' Church, Burnham Norton, North Norfolk. We were initially approached by the Church to price up…

With many thanks to  for featuring us today, and Russell Sach for capturing the moment of us working on pieces for  : Ro...
17/05/2024

With many thanks to for featuring us today, and Russell Sach for capturing the moment of us working on pieces for : Royal Palace Reborn.

Lovely to be invited to the PV of the NR23:23 exhibition at  this evening. Helen's got paintings and sketches of the flo...
07/09/2023

Lovely to be invited to the PV of the NR23:23 exhibition at this evening. Helen's got paintings and sketches of the flower gate, and we're exhibiting the sheep and flower gate. It's on for a couple of weeks, starting tomorrow morning.

Oh hello! We opened the doors this morning to find we weren't the first in the workshop. This little Little Owl must hav...
06/09/2023

Oh hello! We opened the doors this morning to find we weren't the first in the workshop. This little Little Owl must have fallen down the chimney overnight!

Super chuffed to find a little red dot next to one of our pieces in the    exhibition. It's the last day today so do pop...
10/07/2022

Super chuffed to find a little red dot next to one of our pieces in the exhibition. It's the last day today so do pop in and see it if you get the chance.

There's a fabulous range of work in various media made by artists who live in the NR23 postcode area (which is not that large, as you can see by the map!).

Lovley to see so many of the showing, plus lots of artists who I'd not met before.

Thanks to all involved in creating such a amazing showcase!

Thanks to everyone who responded to the previous post about the pick up sticks particularly  This is how it has develope...
19/05/2022

Thanks to everyone who responded to the previous post about the pick up sticks particularly This is how it has developed. There are two versions - one regular and one more random, I am not sure which one I prefer. What do you think?

Come and visit us in the forge and see what we've been up to. North Norfolk Studios starts in just over 3 weeks...
05/05/2022

Come and visit us in the forge and see what we've been up to. North Norfolk Studios starts in just over 3 weeks...

Address

Longlands, Holkham Estate
Wells Next The Sea
NR231RU

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