Okehampton

We wanted to have a look at Finchs' Foundry, a National Trust property and the only working waterwheel forge in the UK. It's not a foundry at all, as the man explained, it is a forge that works wrought iron into tools such as shovels, scythes and farm implements. A few men could produce 400 tools a day once the waterwheel machinery was installed. One waterwheel runs a fan for the fire, 4 boys were previously employed keeping the fire supplied with air. The big hammer bangs down about 5 times per second.



Part of the museum at the foundry explained about the connection to Tom Pearse's Old Grey Mare, 'Uncle Tom Cobley and All'. So many hopped on the horse that it 'took sick and died'. Its ghost still appears, with her rattling bones, they say.



While at Okehampton we had a look around town and visited the ruined Okehampton Castle. It dates from 1192 and would have been a huge building in its day. 1000 years of technology was apparent!