Wortley Top
Forge
Believed to be the only remaining ironworks of its
kind in Britain still on its original site. The Forge buildings were first
built in the early to mid- 17th century and subequently extended in 1713. Its
waterwheels, sluices, dam and hammers are still intact. The museum contains
18th and 19th century waterpowered hammers and handpowered cranes, while the
foundry houses a very large collection of working stationary steam engines.
Located beside the River Don within a few miles of both Sheffield and Barnsley,
(see map), the site is a a haven of wildlife with flora
and fauna in abundance all year round. The Forge has its own non-operational
400mm gauge industrial track around the site with a number of relics and old
hopper wagons on display. This railway is believed to be French in origin from
the 1890's.
For more information, see the
Wortley Top Forge Website http://www.topforge.co.uk/
For some superb
panoramic views of the Forge site,
click
here.
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