Join your RIBA South West Regional Engagement Partner, Nathalie, for this special walk at Chettle to find out more about RIBA in your area, share your experience of working in the South West while getting a fresh air fix.
Ticket price includes a pie, pasty, or sausage roll from Chettle Village Store and a soft drink. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
There will be an introduction and walking tour of the village before stopping for lunch at Chettle Village Store where we’ll pick up our locally renowned pies. After a bite to eat, we’ll continue our walk to the forge for a talk and demonstration with Ian Thackray, blacksmith.
Ian Thackray will talk about how a blacksmith survives in the modern world, the difference between forged and fabricated, different finishes, ironwork restoration and will demonstrate the different types of equipment and processes.
About Ian Thackray
Ian Thackray is an alumnus of The Kings Foundation and currently their Blacksmith Craft Mentor. He is a council member with the National Heritage Ironwork Group and was awarded the Diploma of Merit by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in 2023.
Ian has completed significant commissions for both Royal and Duchy Estates including Dumfries House and Bradley House; worked on listed buildings including Highgate Cemetery and RHS Wisley Laboratory. He has retrofitted new metalwork for the National Trust, made sculptural planters for Twinings Tea and worked on The Body Shop's 2022 Chelsea Flower Show garden structure.
Image credit: © Ian Thackray
Why walk?
As you walk side by side, conversations flow organically. The casual and open atmosphere allows for more authentic connections, transforming traditional networking into a dynamic and enjoyable experience.
The act of walking has been proven to boost creativity, walking isn't just a meeting; it's a catalyst for innovation.
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a mixture of terrain.
Accessibility
The walk follows a route, that is wide enough for at least two people side by side. The forge is within an old building, based on a farm so the ground is uneven in places, we will make adaptations so that the whole group may enjoy the event. If you have any additional access needs you want to discuss, you can email riba.southwest@riba.org.
