Wortley Top Forge

Wortley Top Forge Wortley Top Forge is now the only water powered heavy iron forge which retains it's orignal building
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Top Forge is a Water Powered Heavy Iron Forge whose history can be traced back to at least 1640. The site has been used for bloomeries and fineries but it is best known for the Wrought Iron Railway Axles that were hammer-welded between 1840 and the closing of the Forge around 1910. Following the final abandonment of the site in 1929, various bodies have been involved in securing the site which now

forms the heart of an Industrial Museum. Exhibits at Top Forge include the original water wheels and water-powered drop hammers within the original Forge building which is progressively being restored to 1900s condition. All three Water Wheels can be run subject to the conditions. An adjoining 1750s building houses a 1900s Machine Shop, that is used for most of the restoration work, displays of medium sized and small stationary steam engines and displays of old machine and hand tools.

One of today's visitors
17/05/2026

One of today's visitors

04/05/2026
05/04/2026
05/04/2026

The Forge is open every Sunday and holiday Monday with guided tours available.

We are pleased to be welcoming the Sheffield Simplex cars back to the Forge on our special May opening on Monday May 4th...
29/03/2026

We are pleased to be welcoming the Sheffield Simplex cars back to the Forge on our special May opening on Monday May 4th. As usual all the engines, the railway and miniature road vehicles will be running. There will also be a children's craft room as well as craft stalls and blacksmithing demonstrations from Stan, our resident blacksmith.

Problem sorted! The dam is now refilling ready for running the water wheels again next Sunday.
25/03/2026

Problem sorted! The dam is now refilling ready for running the water wheels again next Sunday.

Due to an unexpected problem we won’t be able to run the waterwheels this Sunday, our volunteers are working to get the ...
20/03/2026

Due to an unexpected problem we won’t be able to run the waterwheels this Sunday, our volunteers are working to get the wheels running again as soon as possible. Everything else on the Forge site will be working as normal.

The Forge will be re-opening next Sunday 15th March. Special openings this year are: Monday 4th May - Spring Event with ...
09/03/2026

The Forge will be re-opening next Sunday 15th March.
Special openings this year are: Monday 4th May - Spring Event with Sheffield Simplex cars; Saturday 15th August - Remember the Coal, the acclaimed musical mining show; Sunday 6th September - Engineers Open Day; Sunday 13th December - Santa Sunday.

The Christmas elves have been busy at the Forge today preparing for Santa’s visit on Sunday.
10/12/2025

The Christmas elves have been busy at the Forge today preparing for Santa’s visit on Sunday.

Address

Forge Lane, Wortley
Barnsley
S357DN

Opening Hours

11am - 4pm

Website

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