 ABSTRACT : 'Forging Bloomery Iron', a course working with this unique ancient metal. Artisan Blacksmith Darrell Markewitz offers a regular series of weekend long programs in a number of aspects of traditional Blacksmithing. Special courses include : layered steels (pattern welding), bladesmithing / knife making, bronze casting, iron smelting. Programs held at the Wareham Forge in Ontario Canada, with remote teaching offered at other facilities. |
 |
 |
|
|
Forging Bloomery Iron is an intensive hands on program, roughly 18 hours in duration. It is the only program covering these skills available in Canada. Each student will be provided with a 1 kg pieces of 'raw' bloomery iron (created from one of the smelts seen on the Experimental Iron Smelting series, value approximately $100). Deliberately, the quality and alloy content of these bloom pieces will vary. Requires intermediate level experience (ability
to forge weld ),
(see Course Requirements).
Session
limited to TWO students only, with each provided with
their own work station. Programs are open to any physically able people, from young adults onwards. (Aged 16 an up - see a special note : Teens as Students). Any students with "learning \ physical disabilities" need to refer to the detail section on Course Requirements. English is the language of instruction. Sorry - the Wareham Forge is not really wheel chair accessible. As students are required to have some forge experience, it is strongly advised that they bring their own personal forging hammers and tongs (although plenty of tools are on hand). |
 |
| A number of video segments showing past smelts can be found on Darrell's YouTube channel |
Starting Bloom Pieces
|
 |
Your instructor, Darrell Markewitz, is well known as a specialist in the Viking Age. He consulted on the Smithsonian's 'Vikings - North Atlantic Saga' and the Newfoundland Museum's 'Full Circle - First Contact'. He designed and produced the exhibit 'World of the Norse' for the Cranbrook Institute of Science and the 'Norse Encampment' living history program for Parks Canada. In 2001, he was part of a special research team at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC working on presenting Viking Age iron smelting at the site. Since then he has lead a series of experimental iron smelts, attempting to discover lost techniques as they might have been used by the Norse undertaken by the Dark Ages Re-creation Company. He is one of the core group of demonstrators and team leaders behind the highly successful 'Early Iron Symposium' - an annual event held at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown NY. He has taught workshops at his own Wareham Forge, museums, universities and academic conferences in Canada, the USA and in Europe. To date, he has undertaken over 60 smelts using a range of historic and modern equipments. |
| The course fee includes 1 kg bloom iron and a handout on disk. All required safety equipment will be provided. Students are recommended to wear old clothes, which must be all natural fabrics (cotton ideal) and work boots. A long sleeved shirt and cap is recommended. |
|
Remember: to guarantee a place, ensure your application
&
deposit will be received at least 30 days
before the course date you desire. On receiving your deposit, a set of instructions detailing how to get to the Wareham Forge will be sent. (For planning, Wareham is near Flesherton, Ontario - about 45 minutes drive north of Orangeville.) |
the Wareham Forge
The Hamlet of Wareham, R.R. #2 Proton Station, Ontario
CANADA - N0C 1L0
(519) 923-9219 // info@warehamforge.ca
Interested in adding the drama of an
Iron Smelting Demonstration to your Special Event or Educational
Program?
Darrell has been a featured demonstrator at a number of past
events - including in Canada, the USA and within Europe, since
2003.
Check for details on the 'Archaeology &
Experiment - Iron Smelting' Program
For availability and rates, please contact me.
