http://www.topforge.co.uk/
I had a trip here this weekend after it was mentioned in a thread on here. To say Im not too far away from it, I didnt know it existed until then, and even if you drove past the main road to it the A629 from Huddersfield to Sheffield, you wouldn't know as there are no signs indicating that is an attraction.
Wortley Top Forge is an industrial heritage site, run by volunteers who have preserved the site of water powered hammers that were used for forging railway axles and other items. The museum is more that that though with a collection of steam engines and machinery used in the manufacture of sheffield industries like file making and cuttlery making.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, you wont be disappointed, and the museum is very informal with a relaxed attitude, with a guide taking you around the forge, workshops and showing some of the steam engines working (on compressed air). even the health and safety instructions consisted of being told that there are some sharp items, so just be sensible, which if you have an interest in the heritage you'll know that you don't need to poke and prod everything, you can just look and admire what you see. This part of the charm of the place, you can just be left to wander about at your own leisure, including the workshop.
so that's my introduction over I'll post a few piccys now, Im not going to post that many, so you'll have to go and have a look yourself.
the forge hammers and waterwheel and the majority of these are wood not metal
guess you'll like the workshop too, these lathes are over 100 years old and are in daily use, the one one the right was used as part of the war effort in world war one, and are still belt driven.
and a shaper
some steam engines (which run of compressed air)
Elizabeth, (shown below) this engine was saved from scrap by Ken Hawley, the same gentleman mentioned in this thread.
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/ken-hawley-tool-collector-sheffield.86122/
and the engine house was built around the engine at the site, it only operates on special occasions though. its an inverted compound grasshopper engine.
I'll post some more tomorrow
I had a trip here this weekend after it was mentioned in a thread on here. To say Im not too far away from it, I didnt know it existed until then, and even if you drove past the main road to it the A629 from Huddersfield to Sheffield, you wouldn't know as there are no signs indicating that is an attraction.
Wortley Top Forge is an industrial heritage site, run by volunteers who have preserved the site of water powered hammers that were used for forging railway axles and other items. The museum is more that that though with a collection of steam engines and machinery used in the manufacture of sheffield industries like file making and cuttlery making.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, you wont be disappointed, and the museum is very informal with a relaxed attitude, with a guide taking you around the forge, workshops and showing some of the steam engines working (on compressed air). even the health and safety instructions consisted of being told that there are some sharp items, so just be sensible, which if you have an interest in the heritage you'll know that you don't need to poke and prod everything, you can just look and admire what you see. This part of the charm of the place, you can just be left to wander about at your own leisure, including the workshop.
so that's my introduction over I'll post a few piccys now, Im not going to post that many, so you'll have to go and have a look yourself.
the forge hammers and waterwheel and the majority of these are wood not metal
guess you'll like the workshop too, these lathes are over 100 years old and are in daily use, the one one the right was used as part of the war effort in world war one, and are still belt driven.
and a shaper
some steam engines (which run of compressed air)
Elizabeth, (shown below) this engine was saved from scrap by Ken Hawley, the same gentleman mentioned in this thread.
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/ken-hawley-tool-collector-sheffield.86122/
and the engine house was built around the engine at the site, it only operates on special occasions though. its an inverted compound grasshopper engine.
I'll post some more tomorrow