They are the sword-fighting brothers who have carved out their own niche business creating historical, movie and television collectibles. And now Tom and Sam Ive, the driving force behind Raven Forge, have today set out their ambitious plan for a new community experience.

The brothers' aim is to see a former Victorian school site in their home town of Silsden, transformed into their very own medieval castle experience.

Raven Forge, currently based in a warehouse in Cross Hills, was launched in 2019 by the entrepreneurial siblings aged 35 and 38 - who previously ran their own historical sword fighting club in Keighley - after they spotted a gap in the market for medieval and TV replicas.

They decided to swap their day jobs as a physiotherapy assistant and a plumber to make Raven Forge a reality. Their contagious enthusiasm for their products and online livestreams were an immediate hit, creating a massive global community of fans and customers.

Raven Forge specialises in crafting and creating historical, movie and television collectibles -ranging from their famous limited edition pizza axes and drinking horns right through to replica merchandise from the Lord of the Rings.

Over the last two years, Raven Forge and the demand for its products has boomed and it has now become time for the brothers to expand their business.

The Raven Forge team is looking to create new roots with an ambitious vision to transform the former Victorian school site into their new headquarters.

Operation Castle Raven Forge aims to convert the site into its new bricks and mortar store as well as creating an historic mead hall, axe throwing range and even offering blacksmithing experiences at its forge.

The brothers are hoping to protect and give a whole new lease of life to the former Aire View School site to create it into a thriving hub with the development of a high-tech recording studio, a children’s play area and a community green.

Now the team has launched an ambitious Kickstarter fund with support from its 10,000 strong online community to help make the ambition a reality.

Raven Forge founder and director Tom Ive said: “Community is at the heart of everything that we strive for. For us that sense of belonging and having a vested interest is one of the core foundations that underpins our business.

“Over the last three years we have worked hard to build up a fantastic online community. It has been phenomenal to see the demand for what we do grow beyond our wildest expectations.

“We want somewhere to call our new home that’s open to the public. Our community has given us so much, they have been so incredibly supportive of what we do and we want to repay them by creating a central community hub.

“For us this site is very special, it means so much to us on a personal level - our children went to school there as well as our sister Rosie who now works with us at the family business.

“Our family lives in Silsden and we have seen the town transformed by housing developments over the last 30 years. We want to see this fantastic school building become the beating heart of the community once more. Family means everything to us.”

The brothers are offering the full asking price of £1.5million for the former school site but they are looking to the community to throw their support behind their bid too.

The Kickstarter fund aims to raise £150,000 towards Operation Castle Raven Forge and in return will

be rewarded with backer rewards ranging from their famous limited edition pizza axes, merchandise

and the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the site.

Tom added: “We were always going to need a new home with the rate at which the business is growing and this former Victorian school in the town we are lucky enough to call our home is the perfect location for everything want to do. It will future proof us for years to come.

“But we can’t do this on our own, not without the support from our community. This is a chance for all those who have supported us over the years to be part of forging ahead for our joint future.

“And in return they will be able to leave their own lasting marks on the project we’ve dubbed Castle Raven Forge.

“If we’ve learned anything from the last few years it really is the importance of supporting independent and local businesses.

“Bringing the thriving Raven Forge community to the heart of Silsden can only help to give the town’s high street a boost by encouraging more visitors and revenue back into the local economy.

“We started before lockdown and have been lucky enough to be one of the companies that have thrived in this time. This is thanks to our community and we intend to keep growing and supporting them where we can.

“They have been the driving force behind us and now we want to take the next step and have our very own public headquarters that offers a true Raven Forge experience.”

The Kickstarter fund link can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ravenforge/castle-raven-forge