Workshops D.A.R.C Events Biographies
Home Sponsors Maritime Blacksmiths Association D.A.R.C Interactive Gallery Donations Links Contact







There were two main demonstration tents. These will included bleacher seating for 150 people each, and was the site of the main guest forging demonstrations. There was a single tent with six to eight forges which was used as the teaching station. The main guest demonstrators were:

Fred Crist United States
Christoph Friedrich Switzerland
David James United Kingdom
John and Becky Little Canada
Brad Silberberg United States
Paul and Heiner Zimmermann Germany

All of these demonstrators are exceptionally gifted artists, and are well known and respected in the field of contemporary ironwork. Each will give a two to three hour forging demonstration daily, showing the styles, and techniques, they have developed during their careers.



Through the course of CanIRON V, there were a number of lectures of the many techniques used in the art of blacksmithing. The following is a list of lecturers.

Christoph FriedrichSwitzerland
Paul and Heiner ZimmermannGermany
David JamesUnited Kingdom
Adrian LeggeUnited Kingdom
John and Becky LittleNova Scotia, Canada
Darrell MarkewitzOntario, Canada
Fred CristUnited States
KellysmythUnited States
Brad SilberbergUnited States

Below are details on the afternoon & Evening Lectures.


WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31

LocationTimeLecturer
King's Theatre3:00 - 4:00Darrell Markewitz - Viking Age Ironwork
(David Cox and Kevin Jarbeau)
7:30 - 8:30Paul Zimmermann - Grave Markers
8:30 - 9:30David James - 19th C Restoration Ironwork
Legion Hall7:30 - 8:30Brad Silberberg - His Work
8:30 - 9:30Adrian Legge - Student Ironwork


THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1

LocationTimeLecturer
Masonic Hall3:00 - 4:00Kellysmyth - Replicating Ship's Ironwork
7:30 - 8:30Heiner Zimmermann - Design Philosophy
8:30 - 9:30John Little - His Work
Legion Hall7:30 - 8:30Christoph Friedrich - His Work
8:30 - 9:30Fred Crist - His Work



Aside from the Lectures and the demonstrations, there were a number of other workshops that took place throughout the course of CanIRON V. Below are the scheduled teaching stations and workshops.

Instructors - Teaching Station

Adrian Legge - United Kingdom, Herefordshire College of Technology
Henry Pomfret - United Kingdom, Herefordshire College of Technology

Wednesday & Thursday Morning - Beginner Instruction
Wednesday & Thursday Afternoon - Intermediate Instruction
Pre-registration is requested.


Design Workshops

Doug Newell - Alberta, Canada
David James - United Kingdom



For a complete list of scheduled events, please download the CanIRON Programme (PDF - 48.4 KB). As the details or events become available, we will post them here. To view the schedule of events, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.


Download Acrobat Reader Now!


To download a map of Annapolis Royal, surrounding attractions and the locations of the scheduled events, click here.


Open Competition - Viking Blacksmith

The equipment and materials available to the Norse blacksmith was significantly different that than used by even the 'traditional' smith. Fires are small, air provided by simple 'side by side' double chamber bellows, most typically set in the ground. The charcoal fuel was be piled against a stone 'bellows shield'. Although welding temperatures are possible, this is far from easy to achieve. Period anvils were extremely small - less than 10 x 10 cm and perhaps 10 kg - or even a large stone! The smith would purchase his metal as short bars of wrought iron - and would have to first form the rods themselves before an object could be forged. Tools were familiar, but limited in selection.

This competition would be part educational, part skill - and a lot of fun. Teams of two would be provided the following:
  • Forge - 'bowl' ground forge, firing charcoal
  • Bellows - double bag type, with bellows stone (cast of refractory cement)
  • Anvil - stone set on the ground
  • Tools - 800 gm square face hammer / one pair tongs / one cutting, one round hole punch
  • Material - provided with piece of wrought iron 5/8 sq by 8" long
  • Project - each team make a tool of some type.
  • Time - 1 hour
The competition would take place over an afternoon or evening. The DARC team would provide set ups for three forges with tools, as well as direct supervision. The limitation of the unusual tools should provide more of a 'level playing field' for newcomers against experienced smiths.


Experimental Iron Smelt

This experimental smelt of iron ore will use methods and equipment based on that of the Viking Age circa 1000 AD, and is presented as part of the public outreach at CANIRON 5. The process of firing the 'boxed short shaft furnace' (about 30 cm wide and 60 cm tall) with charcoal will take over five hours - making it a day long process. This demonstration is part of an ongoing series experimental archaeology projects to determine the possible methods (details currently unknown) used by Norse smiths to produce metallic iron.

The demonstration iron smelt would be conducted by members of the Dark Ages Recreation Company, under the direction of Viking Age specialist Darrell Markewitz. Undertaken as living history style presentation, presenters will be dressed in historically accurate clothing and using reproduction equipment from the period.

Also on display will be a full reconstruction of a Viking Age 'sand table' blacksmith's forge. As well a selection of reproduction forged items (tools, weapons, domestic ware) will be on on hand. Team members would provide on going commentary on not only the smelting process, but on ironwork in the Viking Age in general.

More information on DARC's iron smelts can be found at www.darkcompany.ca/iron


Copyright © 2004 - 2005 CanIRON V. All Rights Reserved Home | Disclaimer | Contact