Wortley Forge

Wortley 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 include the original water wheels and water-powered drop hammers within the original Forge building which is progressively being restored to 1900s condition.

In the foreground of this image showing one of the drop hammers are two railway wheelsets with axles of the type once manufactured here. The right hand on has wheels with wooden centres.