Finch Foundry, Water-powered forge in Sticklepath, England
Finch Foundry is a historic metalworking shop in Sticklepath powered by water to produce tools and implements. The site contains three waterwheels that drove five hearths, a large furnace, a polishing wheel, and multiple hammers for shaping metal.
The foundry was established in 1812 and produced farm tools until 1960 for local agricultural and mining communities. It became an important industrial operation that shaped the area's economic growth over nearly 150 years.
The foundry was central to local life for generations, shaping metalworking traditions across the region. Visitors can see how craft skills remained embedded in the workshop's daily rhythms and the objects on display.
The site runs regular demonstrations of the working waterwheels and historical metalworking equipment operated by trained staff. Visiting is straightforward on foot from the nearby village of Sticklepath or by car with parking available on the grounds.
Adjacent to the foundry lies a Quaker burial ground connected to the traditional folk song about Widecombe Fair. This quiet cemetery links the industrial story of the place with local folklore and heritage.
Location: West Devon
Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/finch-foundry
GPS coordinates: 50.73040,-3.92587
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:43
Devon combines historical sites and natural landscapes across a region in southwest England. The area extends from moorlands in Dartmoor National Park to cliffs along the Bristol Channel and English Channel coasts. Visitors find Norman castle ruins like Totnes Castle and Okehampton Castle, Georgian manor houses such as Saltram House, medieval villages, and monastery sites like Buckland Abbey. The landscape appears in forms of granite formations, waterfalls, remote beaches, and ancient woodlands. Places include Wistman's Wood with its gnarled oak trees, the rock formations at Valley of the Rocks near Lynton, the historic fishing village of Clovelly with its steep streets, and the sandy beaches at Bantham and Mothercombe. Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall drops directly into the sea, while Blackchurch Rock stands as a coastal formation. Gardens like RHS Garden Rosemoor display botanical collections, and industrial sites such as the water-powered Finch Foundry or the Dartmouth Steam Railway document past working environments. Beer Quarry Caves offer views into historic underground stone quarrying.
National Trust - Finch Foundry
2 m
Methodist Chapel
132 m
Taw River Inn
46 m
Boundary stone 110m north west of St Mary's Church
296 m
Post Office
36 m
Devonshire Inn
28 m
St Mary's Church
203 m
The Dairy And Adjoining Cottage To Its East
35 m
Tudor Cottage
32 m
Carbery And Bracon Cottages And Adjoining Cottage To East
37 m
The Old Cottage
169 m
Chantry's Cottage
55 m
Foundry Cottage
21 m
Finch Foundry Foundry House
14 m
Sticklepath Bridge
182 m
The Kings Arms
879 m
Yellands
886 m
Ford Farmhouse
561 m
Sunnyside Cottage
37 m
Staplers The Heritage
111 m
Sunnyside With Attached Outbuildings
86 m
Taw Leat And Cottage Adjoining To Left
127 m
Barn Approximately 1.5 Metres North Of Ford Farmhouse
544 m
Cleave House
219 m
K6 Telephone Kiosk Opposite Finchs Foundry
40 m
Primula House
89 m
Silverlake
115 m
Milestone, by drive of Trafalgar House, S end of Sticklepath
459 mReviews
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