Firebird Forge reviews

Adam & Stacey Hollingworth reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What a great day! My wife and I bought each other a day course with Mort. Right from the start, we knew we were in safe hands. After an initial safety briefing, we fine-tuned our designs over a cup of coffee and made a start. Mort was immensely knowledgeable both within his field as well as concerning local area history and archaeology and kept us informed and entertained throughout the day. He talked us through techniques, machinery and the chemistry of fire, metals and gases while helping us bring our projects to life. My wife made an incredible candle holder for the garden wall, learning spirals and twists while somehow I managed to create an over-ambitious piece of tree art, making lots of leaves and swirly branches. It was a great day learning something new with a great (and very patient) teacher. We now look at iron and steelwork in a completely new way, appreciating its complexities and the talent that goes into making everything from stately home gates to bottle openers. A truly memorable day and well worth the money. Thank you Mort for the fascinating day, facts, history, laughs and for keeping the art of blacksmithing going. I'm sure we'll see you again. Highly recommended!"

Firebird Forge responded:

"Many thanks for the lovely review. It was a pleasure having you both in the forge. Until next time, all the best, Mort."

Paul Williams reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Great day yesterday with my mate ( prezzie from my wife ) David knows his craft making it look so easy but there to guide you when required . Hope to be back soon to expand our knowledge"

Michael Cross Brown reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"A most enjoyable and informative day spent in the tranquilest of settings. I had never realised the subtlety and delicacy that was involved between the physical applications. It's all about the fire! Thank you Mort for all your help and guidance. Michael"

Andy Powell reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Myself, brother and sister have just completed an excellent course at Mort’s Firebird Forge. We walked straight into the forge building and chatted with Mort about our individual projects over a cup of tea, had a safety briefing, then walked over to the forge for a quick demonstration of the techniques we would need to get us started. We found ourselves heating metal within the hour! Mort created an entertaining and relaxed environment while guiding us through our respective projects and stepped in, as and when necessary, to ensure our projects were completed in time to take home. I am thrilled with my finished project and have no hesitation in recommend this course. If your giving it some thought, just book it.?"

Howard Wilder reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What a fabulous day! Bought for me as a present and didn’t know what to expect. Mort is very engaging and a great teacher. I’m so pleased with my new fire poker!"

Sara Powell reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What an excellent day at Firebird Forge. I went with a bit of an ambitious project to make a table and was helped every step of the way. Great skills and instruction in a relaxed environment. Highly recommended. I will be back I hope…. Thanks so much for finishing it off too :-) Sara"

Richard Pope reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Had a great day a couple of weeks ago. Having done some workshops and minor forging many years ago, I really enjoyed the chance to learn a few more basic skills. It was hard work but Mort made things look so easy and really helped the struggling students especially staying on to finish my planned piece of work that now adorns my inglenook fireplace - it was a wine bottle warmer that hooks onto the fire. Thank Mort."

Firebird Forge responded:

"Thanks for the review and the photos Richard. Enjoy the warmed wine this winter! Cheers, Mort."

Alex Langran reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Had a great day at the Firebird Forge with Mort, he is very knowledgeable and a fantastic teacher. I was bought this as a present and absolutely loved it, finished the day having made an axe head which was definitely a challenge!! I will definitely be back again in the future."

Firebird Forge responded:

"Cheers for the review Alex. I'm glad you liked the day and I'd be happy to welcome you back whenever you want. Many thanks, Mort."

Nicola Collins reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"We had a fab day on this experience at the firebird forge! Bought this day for my boyfriend but I also thoroughly enjoyed myself! Mort is a great teacher and makes the day fun while you’re learning ? we had a great day and made loads of lovely pieces (I love my cake slice!) and we will be back for more forging in the future at the firebird forge - thanks for a great day! ?"

Firebird Forge responded:

"Cheers for the review Nicola. It was a pleasure having both you and John at the forge for the day and the hand forged cake slice was definitely a first! You’re both most welcome anytime you’d like to return. All the best, Mort."

Stephen Hall reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"I have just spent the day blacksmithing with David Mortimer as a 70 th birthday present from my children . It was truly educational and a joy on many different levels. Steel doesn't yield its beauty lightly and will only flower with a craftsman's encouragement through the extremes of heat and physical force. Neither of which in David's hands seem disrespectful. Along the way I discovered that knowing what to do and doing it are not first cousins. Despite which and with David's unflustered input I took home what I came to make. In today's virtual world a day spent working with your hands is a day very well spent."

Paul Sharpe reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Great day with Mort. Made some great stuff, learned a lot and ate lots of biscuits. Thoroughly recommend."

Jessica Stebbings reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Gave my dad this course for his birthday and he came back very happy after it! Managed to make 2 knives and even though they ran over time Mort was happy to carry on if needed. Lovely farm area with great views, highly recommended."

jock wilson reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Great day. Warm welcome and tea, quick, simple but thorough health and safety briefing , then sort out what and how. Really enjoyable day, learnt a lot, especially how skilled and experienced Mort is. Good teacher who does a great job. Highly recommend to anyone. Note , the forge is not warm if the weather is cold. Plenty of layers as you soon warm up when getting busy. Thanks for a cracking day Mort, all the best, Jock Wilson."

Duncan Shannon reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Had a superb day with Mort. I went along with a friend and Mort was really supportive in our choice of what we wanted to create. He set the perfect balance between allowing us to succeed using the skills he had taught us and stepping in to assist, before our frustration or the potential self destruction of our work took hold! He is obviously a master craftsman that makes everything look so frustratingly easy. His patience and knowledge is first class I would whole heartedly recommend his teaching days to any budding blacksmith. Thanks again Mort."

Denise law reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What an amazing day. We both learnt so much. Mort is a very talented smith, patient and a great teacher. We have been buzzing since leaving the forge yesterday and marvelling at what Mort helped us to create. Many thanks Denise and Al."

Peter Fox reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"A great day out. Mort is very engaging and knowledgeable. He has loads of anecdotes. The day flew by and I wish it could have been longer . Brought home a lovely price of work. Hope the cold is better now Mort."

Jo Milsom reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"30th October 2019 I attended the one day blacksmithing course with my cousin armed with drawings of our dream projects. Mort deciphered our efforts and brought us down to earth with what we as complete beginners could realistically achieve in 8 hours, drew it all out on his massive metal table and we were off. The forge is a fascinating space! An incredible array of hammers and tongs amassed around the heart of the fire with the ssshhhhhh quenching pool at the end. We learned how to detect the readiness of the heated metal for fashioning by its colour and the spitty sparks coming off the fire. Then the “bashing bit” using the huge anvils, bending cones and mould templates plus the thunderous electric punch. Mort’s teaching style is thorough but very enjoyable. When time was getting short he speeded up the manufacture of our objects and the finished articles surpassed both of our expectations. Mort would not compromise with a less than perfect finish. It was a great day."

Tony Redpath reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What a great day! Mort was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, supportive and a store of great stories! He looked after us brilliantly and made sure we went home with something we can really treasure."

Katy reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Massive thanks to Mort for a brilliant day for me and my husband. Mort made it very special, he is a fantastic source of knowledge, help and support. Our day included a history of forging and loads of information about the current state of smithing which we really enjoyed. More practically, Mort is a great teacher and a really inspiring designer. He worked with the slightly scrappy ideas we came up with and helped us design practical but achievable objects. Then he showed us the skills we needed to turn those designs into reality, getting the balance right between showing us how and helping with the more challenging aspects. Mort was really ambitious for our designs and inspired us to make something really beautiful. The day was designed about what we wanted to make. We left with two lovely plant holders, uniquely designed and created. Mort never settled for second best, he helped us make something we will treasure and enjoy for years. Highly recomended."

Dave Moore reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"I had a very enjoyable and educational day blacksmithing with Mort at Firebird forge. It was good to learn new [to me] ways of welding and working metals under Mort's guidance. He has the right balance of teaching, leaving you to 'have a go' and helping out when you struggle with more technical aspects, usually making it look easy when he does it. The small groups of two or three people keep it friendly and personal. Many thanks for a great day. Dave Moore"

Rebecca Wright reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Great way to spend a Sunday. I really enjoyed getting to know about Blacksmithing and coming away with a completed project. I made a recipe book holder, which now sits proudly in my kitchen. Mort was great, really passionate about smithing and teaching people - even if, like me, you leave your project in the fire too long and it falls apart (lesson learnt), Mort can fix it! I did arrive nearly an hour late and Mort kindly went over time to make up for my delay. So if you're like me and can't read instructions and drive - scout the place out ahead of time. Many thanks Mort and Daisy (the dog)"

Naomi reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Spent a day at the forge for my husband's 40th and could not recommend more! Mort is a natural teacher with plenty of patience, enthusiasm and skill. We were able to bring our ideas to fruition and come away with the Gothic candlestick of my dreams and a pair of door handles. We were trusted to work on our own pieces but the support was always there if (when in my case!) it was needed. Overall, I highly recommend this as a way to explore a craft you might not usually have access to, it's a hard-working day and you will come away feeling like you have achieved something."

Dave Colwell reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"A fantastic day learning the basics of blacksmithing. Mort is a very friendly chap and made me feel very welcome. I'd not done blacksmithing before but Mort's teaching techniques soon made me feel as though I could give it go. The end results were pretty good for a complete beginner. I would recommend this to anyone who has even a slight interest in blacksmithing."

Miguel Ottmann reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Great fun, Mort's a brilliant teacher and the experience was ultimately very satisfying."

Ian Boxall reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Excellent!!! I had such a great day, Mort is very friendly and was an amazing teacher who was great at explaining everything we needed to know. I was in a group of three, and everyone had a brilliant time. We all went home dirty but with a smile from ear to ear. The day went extremely quickly, and I plan to return to expand on what I learnt and create even more difficult items. Thank you for a wonderful day."