Top Forge is open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter until the Early November (the Sunday of Bonfire Night). Opening hours are 11:00am until 5:00 pm. Admission to the site is £3.00 for Adults, £2.00 for Concessions (O.A.P.s) and 50p for Children (Under 16). This includes all day parking and a guided tour of the site. From 2:00pm a Model Engineering Group operate the Miniature Passenger Carrying Railway, with steam locomotives operating on most weekends. An increased charge will be made on "special " open days.
For an individual or family trip around the Forge we recommend allowing at least an hour and a half although longer may be required on busy days.
The Forge can make special arrangements for Party visits and Special Openings. These should be arranged through Mr. Gordon Parkinson on (0114) 2817991. Please call at a sensible time (i.e. Not after 9:30 pm). You should try to allow 4 to 6 weeks notice for such a visit as certain arrangements cannot always be made at short notice. Please call if your party is visiting on a normal opening day and is larger than 7 to 10 people.
Although the access is a little narrow, we have no problem with large modern coaches bringing parties to Top Forge. Once in the parking area, there is plenty of room for coaches to turn round and wait for their passengers to return. The toilets are also close by, making for an ideal pick-up point.
Tea and biscuits can be provided for groups if some idea of the numbers involved can be given a week before. For Party visits that include refreshments you should allow 3 to 3½ hours to cover a full tour of the Forge, associated buildings and Miniature Railway.
If you have Special Access Requirements, we recommend you read our page on Disabled Access before visiting
If you are unable to visit the Forge site but wish to learn more, we have an Online Guide to the Site
The Forge is situated on the River Don, between Deepcar and Thurgoland. The name 'Wortley' can be a little deceptive as the forge is not on the road that goes through Wortley village. Both share the name of the Wortley Family that lived in the area and were involved with the Forge until the 18th Century.
The associated 'Low Forge' was closed in 1929 (and demolished many years ago) so it is appropriate that the road here was renamed 'Forge Lane' a few years ago.
As you would expect, the forge is directly at the side of the river and is actually on an isolated piece of land between the river and the road, with bridges over the river up-stream and down-stream of the main site.
Another feature of the site is the restrictions on access due to low railway bridges (12'-3" / 3.7m). Although disused since 1984, these bridges (both on the former Woodhead Railway line) are now crossed by a sign-posted footpath called the Transpennine Trail.
The directions given on the next pages are for the major routes and are correct at the date this was compiled, but please remember that road signs and bus services are liable to change.
OSGB grid reference: SK 294998
Link to Directions by Road
Link to Directions by Public Transport
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