National Trust - Finch Foundry — Attraction in West Devon

I made the mistake of not checking the website ahead of arriving and didn’t know you needed to book a 45 tour (otherwise you can’t go into the Foundry) so don’t be like me, book ahead! We went on the next available spot (1 hour after arriving) and got to enjoy the gardens, bookshop and local tea room. It was going really well up until the tour started - whilst I am sure he is a lovely gentleman, the volunteer is quite aged, and even made a joke that he wasn’t allowed to do the 3pm tour as he never finished on time (in an area that has a bus every 2-3 hours and missing it could mean being stranded, not the most funny joke, but lol I guess) We were taken to a ‘museum’ room and it turns out his ‘joke’ was too accurate, for 45 mins straight he droned on about the history of the building and the family that owned the foundry - all very informative if it wasn’t also written along all the walls as well (quite a few guest had to sit down it went on for so long!). 45min in to a 45min tour and we still hadn’t seen the foundry or the carpentry. In the end we had to make a complaint as we were on a schedule. The staff in the office were lovely and sent someone down to show us how the foundry worked, give a demo and then show us the carpentry etc, all done in 10-15mins. They even agreed that they had told the volunteer multiple times to keep it short! In that 10-15min we still hadn't seen the tour come out yet 🙃. So for me I’d say that unless you are a member of the National trust and driving, it’s not worth the time to get there or the cost of entry. I will give it 4 stars as most of the staff were amazing but the whole experience was quite...

This is a National Trust Property and we visited it in Sunny conditions on a Friday. You will get dripped on occasionally. we were on a tour and right at the start our excellent guide addressed the naming 'Elephant in the Room'. Despite the original owners calling it a foundry it was, in fact, a forge. The tour started with the history of the family who set up the place, their clothing and the products made. We were then shown the whole process of how the forge would have operated. This included a description of how the three water-wheels were powered and close up views of the mechanisms. This involves being under the pool that powers the wheels which isn't entirely waterproof hence the occasional drips. Moving inside all the mechanisms were described and there were demonstrations of one of the tilt hammers, a drop hammer and a rather nasty looking metal cutter. Unfortunately they weren't able to demonstrate the large (1 ton plus) tilt hammer since apparently it can be heard from 2 miles away and shakes the building alarmingly. The tour finished in the sharpening room. This was a fascinating visit and well worth the time spent. On a practical note the entrance to the car park is narrow (2m) and it's worth getting a wide turn to make sure you go...

If memory serves, I've been here four times. The first was a forced visit in the early 80s before the A30 bypassed Sticklepath and we were stuck in traffic (this was even before the NT took it under its wings). I was a bored teen but the waterwheel made a lasting impression. The 2nd visit was with my own kids but they were too small to remember but the tea shop made a bigger impression on me than perhaps it should (it was cold and wet so very inviting). My youngest remembered the 3rd (the hammer was lodged in her mind). Which brings me to today's visit when I suddenly remembered that the bloke giving us the tour was probably the same bloke who's been doing this for the last 30 years and wondered if he remembered return visitors? The cafe's now gone (Covid thing I believe) and the entry passageway is navigable in the Merc only if you tuck the wings in but just as all NT properties are, this one is small and perfectly formed. They need 140k for a new roof which is why everyone should join this venerable organisation so this wonderful forge-not-forge continues to educate, entertain and inform for...