Claim: The move to the Centre for Rural Crafts in 2001 meant considerable expansion, organised into bays and fabrication section established including soldering which was employed as early as 5,000 years ago.
Evidence: The move to the Centre for Rural Crafts in 2001 meant considerable expansion as the facility now contains 79 hearths in total; 42 in the blacksmithing bays, and 36 in the farriery bays, as well as a separate demonstration forge area with seating for 36 students. Organised into 3 'bays' with 14 hearths and anvils per bay, each of the 3 blacksmithing bays has its own powerhammers, flypress and other associated equipment and impedimenta. The school also has its own welding and fabrication section where MIG, MAG, TIG, and MMA disciplines are taught as well brazing, soldering and sheet-metalworking. There is evidence that soldering was employed as early as 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia.