FERNHURST Furnace’s open weekend was another roaring success and despite damp weather on Saturday, hundreds of people turned out to enjoy a host of activities at the 17th Century ironworks site.

Highlights included guided tours of the remains of the furnace site, the birds of prey owl and kestrel flying by Hawking About, a Civil War re-enactment with musket, field cannon and pike skirmishes between the Parliamentarians and Cavaliers from the Sealed Knot Society, and the ever popular roast lamb and local beer.

There were guided walks to nearby Shulbrede Priory, interpreters dressed in period costume and craft demonstrations, including a blacksmith, spinning, timber hewing and walking stick making.

The free event – part of the National Trust Heritage weekend raised funds through donations which will help pay towards conservation of the site.

Volunteers have been actively preserving the site, ponds and remains of the foundry since the 1980s.

Carla Barnes and husband Robin, who hosted the weekend, own part of the English Heritage listed archaeological site, once an important centre of the iron working and canon manufacture.