Purely powered by water, this forge was installed by 1641 and worked until 1929.
It worked in conjunction with Wortley Low Forge and they shared a blast furnace.
The original iron masters were Thomas and William Cotton, but was leased to many an artisan throughout the ages.
The site has been used for various processes, including cannon ball production, but it is best known for the wrought iron railway axles that were produced between 1840 and circa 1910.
It is now home to an industrial museum as well as 3 water wheels, a drop-hammer, a machine shop, stationary steam engines, machine and hand tools and a miniature railway!
Top Forge is open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter until Early November (the Sunday of Bonfire Night).
Admission to the site is incredibly reasonable (£3 for adults) and includes all day parking and a guided tour of the site. It is cared for by the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and South Yorkshire Trades Historical Trust. Find out more HERE!
Opening hours : 11:00am until 5:00 pm.
Grid reference: SK 294998
Satnav postcode: S35 7DN
Purely powered by water, this forge was installed by 1641 and worked until 1929.
It worked in conjunction with Wortley Low Forge and they shared a blast furnace.
The original iron masters were Thomas and William Cotton, but was leased to many an artisan throughout the ages.
The site has been used for various processes, including cannon ball production, but it is best known for the wrought iron railway axles that were produced between 1840 and circa 1910.
It is now home to an industrial museum as well as 3 water wheels, a drop-hammer, a machine shop, stationary steam engines, machine and hand tools and a miniature railway!
Top Forge is open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter until Early November (the Sunday of Bonfire Night).
Admission to the site is incredibly reasonable (£3 for adults) and includes all day parking and a guided tour of the site. It is cared for by the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and South Yorkshire Trades Historical Trust. Find out more HERE!
Opening hours : 11:00am until 5:00 pm.
Grid reference: SK 294998
Satnav postcode: S35 7DN
