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Blacksmithing & Metalwork Courses in Cornwall

From a hands-on afternoon at the forge to a full welding diploma, Cornwall and Plymouth offer a small but genuine range of blacksmithing and metalwork tuition.

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Blacksmithing and metalwork tuition is more niche than painting or jewellery making, but Cornwall and Plymouth still offer a genuine spread of options - from a traditional working forge to structured welding qualifications. Trevella Farm Forge near Truro and Sanny Feye Metalwork at Pencarn Forge near Hayle both teach traditional blacksmithing techniques at working forges, while Cornwall College Camborne runs a structured evening course in ARC/MIG welding skills.

Just over the border in Plymouth, Flameworks offers hands-on blacksmithing experiences with metalsmith Luke Axworthy suitable for beginners aged 11 and up, The Weld Space runs welding workshops and evening classes with bench-hire for ongoing practice, and City College Plymouth offers a full-time Fabrication and Welding diploma for those wanting a recognised qualification.

A note on this guide

Two practical notes: Sanny Feye Metalwork near Hayle references metalwork courses, but specific dates aren’t publicly listed, so confirm availability before booking. Trevella Farm Forge doesn’t publish a fixed course calendar either - contact them directly to arrange dates.

Good to know before you go

  • Booking essential: most blacksmithing and metalwork providers work by appointment rather than a fixed timetable - contact them directly before planning a visit.
  • Age limits: Flameworks' blacksmithing sessions require participants to be 11 or older; Trevella Farm Forge requires a minimum age of 14, with under-18s needing adult accompaniment.
  • Safety equipment: forge and welding work involves heat, sparks and machinery - suitable clothing and safety equipment are normally provided or specified by the provider, so check in advance.
  • Qualifications vs experiences: City College Plymouth's Fabrication and Welding diploma is a recognised year-long qualification; everything else on this page is a shorter experience, workshop or evening course.

Blacksmithing & Metalwork Courses in Cornwall & Plymouth

Camborne

Evening Course

Cornwall College Camborne - Welding Skills (ARC/MIG)

Trevenson Road, Pool, Redruth TR15 3RD

An 8-week evening course introducing beginners and those with limited experience to practical ARC and MIG welding techniques, covering common joint types, equipment setup, safe workshop practice and welding in different positions on various plate thicknesses.

  • Schedule: Wednesdays, 18:00-20:00, 8 weeks.
  • Next starts: 23 September 2026, 20 January 2027, 28 April 2027.
  • Fee: £410 (adults 19+).
View official course

Truro (Trispen)

Blacksmithing Workshop

Trevella Farm Forge

Trevella Farm, Trispen, Truro TR4 9BD

A working forge offering a full-day Introduction to Blacksmithing, a half-day taster session making a decorative "blacksmith's leaf" keyring, and a one-day course forging your own carbon steel knife. A Hobbyist Club is also available for more experienced smiths wanting professional facility access.

  • Age: 14+, under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Prices: From £100 (half-day taster) to £200-300 (full-day courses).
  • Booking: Contact directly to arrange dates - no fixed public calendar.
View workshops

Hayle (Canon's Town)

Confirm Before Booking

Sanny Feye Metalwork (Pencarn Forge)

Pencarn Forge, Canon's Town, Hayle TR27 6NA

Traditional forging tuition from a smith trained by experienced blacksmith Dan Harding Snr, working from Pencarn Forge in the far west of Cornwall. The forge itself is also home to Dan Harding's own commercial ironwork business, a separate operation at the same site. Workshop hours vary, and course details aren't published in full online.

  • Contact: 07397 007240.
  • Note: Contact directly to confirm current course content, dates and pricing before visiting.
Visit official website

Just Over the Border: Plymouth

Not in Cornwall, but Plymouth offers some of the region's most established blacksmithing and welding tuition, worth the trip for anyone in South East Cornwall.

Devon - Not Cornwall

Flameworks Plymouth - Blacksmithing with Luke Axworthy

7 Richmond Walk, Plymouth PL1 4LL

Hands-on blacksmithing experiences with award-winning metalsmith Luke Axworthy, based at the Flameworks Creative Arts Facility. Welcomes complete beginners through to those wanting to develop existing skills, working with hot metal to create functional and decorative pieces. No weapons-making is taught.

  • Age: 11+.
  • Availability: Private sessions by appointment, typically Saturdays.
View blacksmithing course
Devon - Not Cornwall

The Weld Space

Studio 1, Candlewick Lane, Alma Yard, Plymouth PL4 0FF

A dedicated welding studio near Plymouth's Barbican, running welding workshops and evening classes for beginners and improvers, plus a bench-hire scheme for people wanting ongoing access to professional welding equipment between courses.

  • Format: Workshops, evening classes, bench hire.
  • Contact: 07714 250656.
Visit official website
Devon - Not Cornwall

City College Plymouth - Fabrication and Welding

Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 5QG

A full-time, year-long City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma covering fabrication and welding principles used in manufacturing and maintenance, including MIG welding, TIG welding and sheet metal work - the most in-depth, qualification-based option on this page.

  • Schedule: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 9:00am-4:30pm.
  • Start date: 7 September 2026.
  • Entry requirements: GCSE English & maths grade 3+.
  • Fee: £999 (free for ages 16-18; may be free for 19+ depending on eligibility).
View official course

Choosing a Blacksmithing or Metalwork Course

A One-Off Experience

Flameworks' blacksmithing sessions and Trevella Farm Forge's half-day taster are both good options for a single, memorable introduction to working at the forge.

Making Something to Keep

Trevella Farm Forge's one-day Blacksmith's Knife course lets you forge and take home a complete carbon steel knife.

Learning to Weld

Cornwall College Camborne's evening course and The Weld Space's workshops both teach practical welding skills without committing to a full qualification.

A Recognised Qualification

City College Plymouth's full-time Fabrication and Welding diploma is the only accredited, qualification-level course on this page.

Ongoing Practice

The Weld Space's bench-hire scheme suits people who already have some welding experience and want regular access to equipment.

West Cornwall

Sanny Feye Metalwork at Pencarn Forge near Hayle is the closest option for anyone based in far west Cornwall - contact directly to confirm current course availability.

Blacksmithing & Metalwork Course Guide

Provider Area Format Main Subjects Best For
Cornwall College CamborneCamborne / Pool8-week evening courseARC/MIG weldingStructured beginners' welding
Trevella Farm ForgeTrispen / TruroHalf-day to full-dayBlacksmithing, knife-makingOne-off forge experiences
Sanny Feye MetalworkHayle (Canon's Town)WorkshopTraditional forgingWest Cornwall - confirm details first
Flameworks PlymouthPlymouth (Devon)Private sessionBlacksmithingBeginners aged 11+, gifts
The Weld SpacePlymouth (Devon)Workshop / evening classWeldingOngoing bench access
City College PlymouthPlymouth (Devon)Full-time diploma (1 year)Fabrication & weldingRecognised qualification

Frequently Asked Questions

Trevella Farm Forge near Truro and Sanny Feye Metalwork at Pencarn Forge near Hayle both offer blacksmithing tuition in Cornwall. In Plymouth, Flameworks runs blacksmithing experiences with metalsmith Luke Axworthy for ages 11 and up.

Yes. Flameworks Plymouth offers hands-on blacksmithing sessions with Luke Axworthy for complete beginners aged 11 and over, available by appointment on Saturdays, covering functional and decorative metalwork techniques.

Yes. Cornwall College Camborne runs an 8-week Welding Skills (ARC/MIG) evening course for beginners at its Redruth campus, and City College Plymouth (just over the border in Devon) runs a full-time Fabrication and Welding diploma.

Yes. Trevella Farm Forge near Truro runs introduction, taster and knife-making blacksmithing courses, and Sanny Feye Metalwork operates from Pencarn Forge near Hayle, offering traditional forging tuition - though it's best to contact both directly to confirm current course dates.

The Weld Space in Plymouth's Barbican area runs welding workshops and evening classes plus a bench-hire scheme for independent practice, and City College Plymouth offers a full-time, year-long Fabrication and Welding diploma.

Course dates, prices and availability change throughout the year. The details shown above are those published by providers at the time of research - always check the provider's official website or call ahead before travelling. Several forge-based providers on this page work by direct booking rather than a fixed public calendar - please confirm current availability before planning a visit. Creative Metalwork in Nanstallon has been omitted as it is a commercial fabrication business rather than a course provider. Cornwall Online is not responsible for the content of external websites linked from this page.

Page last updated: August 2026