This four-day Traditional Arrow Making Workshop in East Sussex gives you the knowledge and practical skill to craft a range of historically accurate arrows, from modern target arrows to primitive hunter-gatherer designs and medieval war arrows.

Tracing arrow development from the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers of Europe through to the powerful war arrows of the medieval battlefield, this course explores how our ancestors refined materials, design and technique to meet the demands of hunting and warfare.

You will work with sawn timber that you prepare yourself, as well as self arrows made from carefully selected shrub stems with excellent natural arrow qualities. We also explore roundwood self arrow designs from timber we identify and fell locally in Sussex, alongside bushman-style primitive arrows.

This is a hands-on, historically grounded arrow making course rooted in traditional woodland craftsmanship.

Course Content

• Material and species selection
• Carpentry techniques for arrow production
• Deflection testing and spining arrows
• Horn nock inserts
• Self nocks
• Cutting and preparing feathers
• Fletching techniques
• Whipping and binding
• Primitive glues
• Medieval glues
• Modern adhesives
• Modern target points and piles
• Medieval bodkins
• Primitive arrowheads

This workshop examines how arrow design evolved over thousands of years, and why certain materials and methods made our ancestors so effective and adaptable.

Duration

The course runs over 4 days.

Arrival is at 5pm on the first evening to set up camp, followed by an informal talk introducing arrow history, materials and design principles. Full working days follow, concluding at 4pm on the final day.

Dates and Times – 2026

Workshop places are updated regularly.

Traditional Arrow Making Workshop
June 25th (Arrive Thursday 5pm)
Friday 26th
Saturday 27th
Sunday 28th (Finishes 4pm)
4 Places Available

Traditional Arrow Forging Workshop
Friday 18th (Arrive 5pm)
Saturday 19th
Sunday 20th 2026
Places Available

Join Bowyer Phil Brooke and Joe Garnett, head blacksmith from Thorn Wood Forge, for a two-day medieval arrowhead forging course. You will learn traditional blacksmithing skills and hand forge your own medieval arrowheads.

If attending the forging course, please wear old cotton or denim clothing. Synthetic materials can melt if hot metal contacts them. No open-toe footwear. PPE is provided. The forging course is physically demanding, so please get in touch prior to booking if you have medical concerns.

Location

Near Hellingly, East Sussex

Course Size

Maximum 8 participants

Fees

The total course fee is £350 per person.

A deposit secures your place. The remaining £250 will be invoiced 4–6 weeks prior to the course start date.

Catering

This course is part catered, providing an evening meal only.

We cater for meat and vegetarian diets. If you have allergies or complex dietary requirements, or follow a strict vegan diet, you will need to supplement the provided food with your own provisions.

Progression

Many participants progress onto our Traditional Bow Making Workshop, where we focus on wooden bows that shaped life in temperate Europe from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to medieval warfare. On that course, you craft self bows from roundwood timber prepared and felled locally in Sussex.

Course Details

The course is delivered entirely outdoors from our comfortable expedition-style woodland camp.

Appropriate warm outdoor clothing is required.

Upon booking, you will receive detailed joining instructions in PDF format, including:

• Recommended kit list
• Directions
• Course information
• Medical form

Please check your email account, including spam folders, for attachments.

Camping and Facilities

Woodland camping is included at no extra cost, although it is not mandatory. Local B&Bs and hotels are available.

The course is run from our woodland workshop facilities, which include:

• Heated workshop
• Kitchen
• Showers
• Toilets
• Woodland or field camping

Tools

All tools are provided.

You may find it useful to have one of our own Bow Making Scrapers, ideal for workshop use:
https://www.philbrookelongbows.co.uk/product/phil-brooke-longbows-two-handed-cabinet-scraper/226/

Social Media

See photographs from previous arrow making workshops and courses on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/philbrookelongbows/

Reviews

Josh Smith

“What a delightful rabbit hole to go down. The idea of making a set of arrows from a square plank of wood has always appealed to me, but while there’s heaps of information about bow making, there’s very little about the science and art of arrow making. This is a truly exceptional course, due in no small part to Phil’s deep knowledge of the historic backdrop and years of experience working with the materials. Thanks to his patient instruction, I am delighted with the arrows I’ve made and now have the skills to recreate them independently, just as our ancestors did. Epic course, highly recommended.”

We feel reviews help others make informed decisions on our courses and products. Please read more on our Reviews page:
https://www.philbrookelongbows.co.uk/page/reviews/74/

Further Questions

For any further questions, please contact us directly:
https://www.philbrookelongbows.co.uk/page/contact-us/18/