A major water-powered industrial facility along the River Sheaf used to be located at Abbeydale Works. Grade I and Grade II listed structures have been added to the group, which currently consists of grade I and grade II listed buildings and a scheduled ancient monument.
Workers’ Cottage: waterwheels, workshops, a grinding hull, steam engine, and a UK’s last full crucible steel furnace are some of the sights in this area.
Following a 3-year £1 million Heritage Lottery Funded restoration effort, the historic industrial hamlet of Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet has been returned to its former glory.
Sheffield’s fast-flowing streams combined with the availability of raw materials led to its early industrial growth. This occurred mostly due to the cutlery industry, which used water as its primary source of power.
One of the biggest water-powered installations on the River Sheaf was the Abbeydale Works. They produced agricultural edge instruments such as grass hooks and hay knives, along with crown scythes, which were made using forged tilt hammers and patent riveted scythes.
It’s probable the location has been inhabited earlier to 1713. When the monks of neighbouring Beauchief Abbey founded a blacksmithy in the 13th century, about 1685, Hugh Stephenson, owner of ‘New Wheel,’ leased the smithy and tracked the rent records until 1691, which can be seen via the books of rent. The Works continued to be used up until 1933, when they stopped manufacturing.
