Finch Foundry Arts & Crafts Day 2019
Text by Michael Coleman: video by Mike Brett.
On 1 September 2019, the National Trust’s Finch Foundry hosted an Arts and Crafts Day, highlighting some of the skills that used to be practiced on Dartmoor and showing work by those seeking to maintain those skills. As part of the event, vintage tractors and stationary engines were put on display on the grass in the overflow car park, with owners bringing their machinery and equipment from places in the surrounding area, some of it on trailers, while many of the vintage tractors, still in full working condition, were driven there.
Being blessed with a warm and mostly sunny day, National Trust members, local inhabitants and visitors to the area were able to walk around the exhibits and see them close to, while having their questions answered by the owners. More than a few moving or still pictures were taken, not least of the working stationary engines which could be seen pumping water, generating electricity or powering machinery, just as they would have done before electricity became commonplace in the area in the middle of the last century.
Visitors were also able to enjoy exploring Finch Foundry itself, its associated displays of tools and equipment and to experience the excellent and informative working demonstrations of the huge, water-driven equipment powering massive hammers, shears and sharpening stones. Or, less strenuously or noisily, the tea room was doing a good trade with its tasty cakes and cream teas. Fair to say, a good time was had by all!
Proper job………..