The Old Forge

07/04/2026

We're so pleased to have been nominated (by one of our lovely customers) for My Local Awards. If you get a moment we would be very grateful if you would vote for us. It only takes a few minutes!

Have a look for other local businesses. For instance the Book Nook is there to be voted for under bookshops....

05/04/2026

Last-minute availability at Gillcumber Glamping Pods due to a cancellation.

10th April – £250 for 2 nights, including use of the woodfired hot tub.

Come and see our lambs and enjoy the spring vibes, with a quiet countryside escape and a relaxing soak in the hot tub.

Message to book.

14/03/2026

SUPPORT LOCAL:
When you buy a pint at your local, you’re doing more than just enjoying a great beer.

You’re supporting the brewery that made it, the farmers who grew the barley, the pub pouring the pint, and the people working behind the bar. Local beer helps keep local communities thriving, and tastes pretty good too.

So next time you fancy a pint, remember… you’re not just drinking beer. You’re doing important economic work 😉

20/02/2026

The cidery and distillery are a “must see” if you’re in Cornwall. It’s flippin marvellous and the cider is gorgeous. In the meantime when in Cumbria there’s usually a bottle or two with your name on waiting for you at The Old Forge.

Half Term is in full swing, and whether Cornwall brings blue skies or (more likely!) drizzle, there’s always a warm welcome waiting at Fowey Valley.

We’re a small, independent cidery and distillery, making everything by hand in the beautiful town of Lostwithiel - and we’re proud to be rated five stars on Google by the people who’ve discovered us. If you’re visiting Cornwall this week, here’s what you can experience with us:

🍸 Make your own gin or cider
Join our master distiller and cidermaker, Barrie, and craft your very own bespoke bottle - all while enjoying a tipple along the way. You’ll leave with your own homemade gin or cider, too!

🥂 Free tours & tastings
Go behind the scenes and see how we ferment our ciders and distil our spirits, followed by a guided tasting of our range. Tours run Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings - free to join, just please book ahead.

🍻 Visit our shop
Pop in anytime Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm. No booking needed, and free tastings are always included.

You’re welcome to leave your car here and take a gentle stroll into Lostwithiel itself - one of Cornwall’s loveliest towns, filled with independent cafés, great places to eat, and antique shops waiting to be explored.

Book your visit: https://www.foweyvalleycider.co.uk/book-online

14/01/2026

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas everyone! We’re open Christmas Day from 12 - 2pm.

24/12/2025

Theo wishes all our fantastic customers and friends the best of Christmasses! Thank you for visiting us!!

29/11/2025

Want a cuddle for Christmas? Debbie’s chickens are £18, her pink dragon is £15, Rose’s teddy is £15 and her KSMRT hats are £20 - £25 and all these are for charity.

22/11/2025

What an amazing tractor run!

18/11/2025

Ever been 'on tenter hooks', 'had the wool pulled over your eyes' or 'got down to brass tacks'? We’re still using many expressions connected to sheep, wool and textiles in our every day speech, even if we don’t always realise it. Textiles were such an important part of the economy, it’s not surprising that countless sayings relate to the woollen industry.

Spindles were used for spinning wool, usually with a small round weight or stone fixed to the bottom. This was called a “whorl” and made the yarn tension more constant but sometimes took a while to get right. Nowadays we use the expression 'give it a whirl/whorl' to mean 'have a go'.

Spinning was traditionally done by women. Some one who was bad at spinning wasn’t expected to make a good wife, leading to the term 'spinster', meaning an unmarried woman whose only task was to spin.

After cloth was washed it was stretched out on frames and left to dry. It was held in place 'on tenter hooks' to prevent it losing its shape or flying away.

Factory or machine-made clothes or textiles were seen as less special, more ordinary than handmade clothes. These clothes were the 'run of the mill'.

We often describe some one as 'dyed in the wool', meaning someone whose views won't change. This saying originally came from when raw wool was dyed before it was processed or combed, and it was said to hold its colour longer.

'Getting down to brass tacks' means focusing on the detail. It relates to fabric being measured between two brass tacks set into the cutting counter.

When wool was spun on to a reel or “weasel”, it made a sound when a certain length of yarn was reached – as in 'pop goes the weasel' in the nursery rhyme.

White wool can be dyed many colours but wool from black sheep can only be spun into black wool, so you don’t want too many black sheep in your flock, hence the expression 'black sheep of the family'.

Judges were said to have the 'wool pulled over their eyes'. This apparently came from judges wearing wool wigs that slipped over their eyes so they became blind to the facts of the case.

Do you still use these expressions? Or others relating to wool and sheep?