Handmade Coin Rings and Accessories
Hello, my name is Sam, and I am the owner and maker behind Knock Dhu Workshop. Every item in my shop is handmade to order here in Belfast.
Knock Dhu, from the Irish Gaelic Cnoc Dubh, means “black hill.” It is a mountain on the Antrim Plateau that offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, the Irish Sea, and the Mull of Kintyre. Rich in history, the hill bears the remains of a Bronze Age promontory fort and is crossed by the 636-mile Ulster Way, a circular walking route that spans all six counties of Northern Ireland.
This deep connection to place and history lies at the heart of Knock Dhu Workshop. The craftsmanship of prehistoric Celtic peoples, who fashioned everyday objects from iron, copper, and bronze, continues to inspire my work today.
Pre-decimal coins no longer hold monetary value and are often forgotten in drawers or discarded altogether. Yet these coins were once an essential part of daily life, exchanged for newspapers, bus fares, and loaves of bread, passing through the hands of countless ordinary people. My aim is to honour that history by giving these coins a new purpose, transforming them into meaningful pieces that can be worn, used, and treasured once again.
You can visit the KnockDhu Workshop here.
