Booking your visit to Patterson's Spade Mill

Published:: 31 July 2024

Patterson's Spade Mill Guided Tour | © Paul Moane

Patterson's Spade Mill is open for Blacksmithing classes, guided and interactive tours. You'll need to pre-book your tickets for tours and classes. You'll find everything you need to know about booking tickets below.

How to book tours

Patterson's Spade Mill offers two tours of the historic spademill; guided tours and an interactive experience tour. We can accommodate a limited number of walk-ups on the day, but to guarantee entry please book online in advance.

All visitors need to book a place on a guided tour in advance, including members. You can book a time slot for the day you want to visit up until 1 hour before.
Entry is free for members, but please bring your membership card with you. Non-members will need to pay: £8.50 for guided tour.
Interactive tours are £20 per person, this includes National Trust Members.
Bookings are for your use only and are not available for resale.
We'll send your booking confirmation by email. Please make sure you fill in your correct email address when you book to ensure you receive your confirmation email.
All children are welcome for guided tours if accomponied by adults, they must be 14+ for interactive tour.

Guided tours

Pre-booked guided tours run on Saturdays from 11am-12noon. Engage your senses and hear the hammers ring on the anvils, see the flames and feel the heat of traditional spade-making. Guided tours vividly capture life during the Industrial Revolution and dig up the history and culture of the humble spade.

Find out the origins of the phrase 'a face as long as a Lurgan spade'. Spoiler alert: it's not what you think.

Interactive tours

Pre-booked interactive tours run on Saturdays from 3pm-4pm.

On this 60 minute immersive experience, get transported back in time. Tour the mill and try out the ancient craft of blacksmithing for yourself. You will learn some of the history of this important piece of industrial heritage. Feel the satisfaction of taking home a piece of work forged by your own hands.

Book your visit

Check availability and book your visit to Patterson's Spade Mill

Blacksmith class at Patterson's Spade Mill | © Paul Moane

Blacksmithing classes

Discover the art of blacksmithing with classes at Patterson's Spade Mill. Whether you're looking for a new hobby, or a day out with a difference, Blacksmithing classes at Patterson's Spade Mill are an unforgettable experience.

Learn all about the history of Patterson's Spade Mill, from it's beginnings in Coalisland to becoming the last water powered spade mill in daily use in the British Isles, all while turning you hand to the ancient craft of blacksmithing.

Evening classes

Price: a four week course costs £150

Part of a four week course, evening classes offer a chance to get an in-depth insight into the blacksmithing craft. Attendees will be taught the basics, working their way up over the four weeks to more ornate designs. From the simple tips and tricks of the art form, to seeing how elaborate designs are formed, evening classes are a great way to blow off steam, develop a new hobby and forge your own custom piece taking it from concept to completion.

Full day classes

Price: a full day class costs £125

Take a day off from your routine and become a blacksmith with a full day class. Full day classes normally last about six hours and are led by our fully-trained, qualified blacksmiths. The Patterson's team is dedicated to sharing the time-honoured craft of blacksmithing, ensuring that your expeirence is not only memorable but safe.

Over the course of a full day class you will be given the history of Patterson's, an insight into how the current mill works and a hands-on look at the techniques used in creating everything from the simple shoe horse to ornate, bespoke commissions. These full day classes give you a real taste for the blacksmithing craft as you create your own bespoke piece, and when the tools are downed and the forge extinguished, you'll take away a beautifully crafted piece of ironmongery.