Wortley Top Forge
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Wortley Top Forge is an historic former ironworks originally dating back to the seventeenth century, although evidence suggests iron working took place in the vicinity as early as the fourteenth century. It is situated in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England, on a loop of the River Don near to the village of Wortley, South Yorkshire.
There is very little evidence of the first use of the site for ironworking, but the building includes as date stone for 1713. The current layout of the building dates from the 1850s when the forge was turned over to the production of shafts and axles mainly for use on railway wagons. Production ceased around 1912, but parts of the site remained in use until 1929.
'Top Forge' was always closely related to Wortley Low Forge, a short distance downstream.
One of the 'Top Forge' hammers was run as a demonstation in 1933 or 1934.
Since the late 1960s the site has been developed as a Industrial Museum.
Some of the earliest metallurgical experiments in the world were conducted at the site by the engineer and metallurgist Thomas Andrews. Railway axles of the highest quality were manufactured at the site in the nineteenth century and exported all over the world.
Also of particular interest is that the site only ever used waterwheels to power the machinery. All three waterwheels have been restored to working order.