Wortley Top Forge Satnav S35 7DN
Forge Lane
Thurgoland
S35 7DN
O.S.G.B. Grid reference: SK 294 999
Wortley Top Forge is just off the A629 Sheffield to Huddersfield Road, between the villages of Wortley and Thurgoland.
The name ‘Wortley’ can be a little deceptive as the forge is not on the main road that goes through Wortley village.
The Forge is beside the river Don on an isolated piece of land between the river and Forge Lane, with road bridges over the river up-stream and down-stream of the main site.
Coach parties
Note that there are low bridges on some of the routes to Wortley Top Forge. Low railway bridges (12′-3″ / 3.7m and 13′ / 3.9m) carried the former Woodhead Railway line which has now become the Transpennine Trail footpath.
Coaches wishing to avoid these low bridges can travel on the A616 Stocksbridge bypass exiting at Wortley Road. Unfortunately this is a restricted junction when approached from the east and one must drive on towards Deepcar before turning back along Wortley Road and Soughley Lane towards the Forge.
The entrance gates to the site are 13ft (3.9m) wide.
Directions by Road
From the M1 Northbound (London Nottingham, Derby, East Sheffield, etc.) – Height Restricted
Leave the Motorway at Junction 35A (Limited Access), signposted “A616 (A628) Manchester”
Follow the A616 across two round-abouts (Second exit on both), then in a mile and a half (at the top of the hill) turn off to the Left, signposted ‘A629 Huddersfield & Wortley’.
At the end of the slip road, turn left and cross over the top of the road you have just travelled along. Take the second road on the left going steeply downhill by the 30 m.p.h. signs into ‘Finkle Street Lane’. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ Sign here.
After half a mile, go under the Low Bridge (12′-3″ / 3.7m) and follow the road for another half mile
Follow the road as it swings left, over the river and then back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
From the M1 Southbound (Leeds, York, Barnsley, etc.) – Height Restricted
Leave the Motorway at Junction 36, signposted ‘A61 Sheffield North’. Turn right at the round-about (third exit) onto the A61 dual carriageway. After a mile, turn right at the round-about onto the A616 (Third Exit) signposted ‘ Manchester (A628)’.
At the next junction, on the A616 (in a mile and a half and at the top of the hill) turn off to the Left, signposted ‘A629 Huddersfield & Wortley’.
At the end of the slip road, turn left and cross over the top of the road you have just travelled along. Take the second road on the left going steeply downhill by the 30 m.p.h. signs into ‘Finkle Street Lane’. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ sign here.
After half a mile, go under the Low Bridge (12′-3″ / 3.7m) and follow the road for another half mile
Follow the road as it swings left, over the river and then back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
From the M1 Avoiding the Low Bridge (appropriate for large coaches)
Follow the directions given above to gain the A616 road West bound. Instead of leaving the A616 at the A629 junction remain on the A616, travelling down the hill, for 2 miles, to the next junction. This is signposted ‘ Oughtibridge (A6102), Deepcar’. Unfortunately this is a restricted junction. At the end of the slip road turn left (you are not allowed to turn right).
Pass beneath the steel railway bridge, then take the first left into ‘Station Road’. Use the large entrance on the right (into a haulage yard) to turn round (the local bus company also do this).
Leave station road by retracing your steps and turning right back towards the A616. After passing under the railway bridge again and then the road bridge, turn left onto the B6088 (Soughley Lane), signposted ‘Thurgoland’. Follow this road to the T junction at Wortley station and turn left, again signposted ‘Thurgoland’, into Forge Lane. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ Sign here.
Follow this road for another half mile and then to the left, over the river and back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
From Sheffield (North, West and South) (any vehicle)
From the centre of Sheffield, head north on the A61 Penistone Road. Shortly after passing Hillsborough (B & Q, Morrisons and Pizza Hut on the left), turn left at the end of Hillsborough Park (Parkside Road) – Signposted Stocksbridge A6102. This road will take you past the entrance to the Sheffield Wednesday Football Ground on your right. Follow the main road through three sets of traffic lights and join (for a short distance) the ‘Sheffield Supertram’ route.
Keep on the A6102 for around 6 miles, passing through Middlewood, Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side. On the approch to Deepcar (marked by ‘Deepcar Motor Homes’ on the right), take the right hand lane through the traffic lights, where you turn down hill – signposted A616 Manchester.
After crossing the narrow river bridge, passing under the high railway bridge and then a road bridge and turn left onto the B6088 (Soughley Lane), signposted ‘Thurgoland’. Follow this road to the T junction at Wortley station and turn left, again signposted ‘Thurgoland’, into Forge Lane. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ Sign here.
Follow this road for another half mile and then swing left over the river and back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
Alternative Route from North Sheffield (Height Restriction)
Join the A61 Penistone Road/Halifax Road heading North (Signposted M1 Northbound and Barnsley). At the end of the ‘Crown’ Inn and Petrol Station, turn off to the left onto the A629 (Signposted to Huddersfield). In 2 miles, after crossing over the top of the A616 ‘Stocksbridge By-pass’, take the second road on the left going steeply downhill by the 30 m.p.h. signs into ‘Finkle Street Lane’. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ Sign here.
After half a mile, go under the Low Bridge (12′-3″ / 3.7m) and follow the road for another half mile
Follow the road to the left, over the river and then back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
From South Manchester and the West (any Vehicle)
Cross the Pennines on the A618′ Woodhead Pass’. On the South Yorkshire side of the hills, turn right at the first round-about onto the A616, signposted ‘Sheffield & M1’.
In 6 miles, after passing the Steelworks at Stocksbridge on the right, turn off to the left signposted ‘Sheffield (A6102), Deepcar & Oughtibridge’. Immediately off the main road, turn right onto the B6088 (Soughley Lane), signposted ‘Thurgoland’. Follow this road to the T junction at Wortley station and turn left, again signposted Thurgoland, into Forge Lane. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ Sign here.
Follow this road for another half mile and then to the left, over the river and back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
From Huddersfield and the North Pennines (Height Restricted)
Leave the Huddersfield inner ring road on the A629 signposted ‘Sheffield’
Follow the A629 for 14 miles to the village of Thurgoland. Turn right at the traffic lights (at the side of the Green Dragon Pub) into Cote Lane.
Pass under the Low Bridge (12′-3″ / 3.7m) and follow the road to the left after the bridge over the river. The road then bends to the right at the side of the Forge pond. Turn left into the Forge. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
From Huddersfield and the North Pennines Avoiding Low Bridge
Follow the directions given above as far as Thurgoland. Instead of turning right, go straight across and continue on the A629 through Wortley Village (take care on the tight S bend by the Church). After Wortley Village take the third road on the right, which joins the A616 signposted ‘Manchester’.
In 2 mile after travelling down the hill leave at the next junction. This is signposted ‘Oughtibridge (A6102) & Deepcar’. Unfortunately this is a restricted junction. At the end of the slip road turn left (you are not allowed to turn right).
Pass beneath the steel railway bridge, then take the first left into ‘Station Road’. Use the large entrance on the right (into a haulage yard) to turn round (the local bus company also do this).
Leave station road by retracing your steps and turning right back towards the A616. After passing under the railway bridge again and then the road bridge, turn left onto the B6088 (Soughley Lane), signposted ‘Thurgoland’. Follow this road to the T junction at Wortley station and turn left into Forge Lane, again signposted ‘Thurgoland’. There is a ‘Wortley Top Forge’ Sign here.
Follow this road for another half mile and then to the left, over the river and back to the right. The Forge Museum entrance is the second opening on the right. Cross the dam wall, pass through the gates and between the trees and park on the grass area.
Directions by Public Transport
Because of the rural location of the Forge, we cannot recommend using public transport at this time, especially as the current opening times are generally limited to Sundays, when the local bus service is at its worst, giving the longest connection times with other routes.
The details below are only a guide to the type of service available and how best to use it. No attempt has been made to give timings for either rail or bus services. We strongly advise you to contact South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive before planning a journey to the Forge. Their information line telephone numbers are 0114 2767575 & 01226 213314. The Local bus operator, First Mainline can be called on 0114 2567000, or you can visit their Web Site – Covering Sheffield, Rotherham & Doncaster
By Train
Travel to either Sheffield or Barnsley Railway Stations and change to Buses at the adjacent Interchange bus stations (See Below)
By Bus from Sheffield
At Sheffield Transport Interchange, catch the 57, 58 (Sunday afternoon and evenings), 66 or 67 (Monday to Saturdays). All four buses cover the same route to Deepcar and are run by ‘First Mainline’. Get off at the first stop in Deepcar after the traffic lights at the Royal Oak Pub. (Journey Time – 25 to 40 minutes)
Change here to a bus bound for Barnsley (24 and 24A), run by ‘Yorkshire Traction’ or ‘Barnsley & District’. The bus stop for this service is directly opposite the drop off point on for the 58, 66 & 67 services. From the 57 service, walk back from the bus stop, and turn right up hill (Carr Road). The bus stop is on the right (down hill) side
This connection may be very poor (90 to 100 minutes at certain times)
If asked politely, the bus driver will stop for you at Wortley Top Forge (this is an official bus stop, called ‘Well Hill Lane / Forge Lane’) (Journey Time 5-10 minutes)
By Bus from Barnsley
At the Barnsley Transport Interchange, catch the 23 bus (Stocksbridge via Thurgoland), run by ‘Yorkshire Traction’ or ‘Barnsley & District’.
If asked politely, the bus driver will stop for you at Wortley Top Forge (this is an official bus stop, called ‘Well Hill Lane / Forge Lane’) (Journey Time 20-25 minutes)