Wortley Top Forge

The oldest surviving heavy iron forge in the world

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Our engines

Stationary Steam Engines

George III stationary steam engine 1910


George III Textile Mill steam engine – built 1910 by Marsdens of Heckmondwike and installed at Wilson Bros Chickenly shoddy mill at Earlsheaton near Dewsbury.

Stationary Steam Engine 1920


From a woodworking business at Bamford

Elizabeth Engine House


The engine house for “Elizabeth” was completed by our volunteers in 1990 to house…

The Elizabeth engine


Elizabeth was built by Schofield & Taylor of Huddersfield in 1887 and rescued from Clough Textile Mill at Slaithwaite by Ken Hawley.

The Cundall Engine 1904


The Cundal Engine from Midhopestones is a 1904 diesel engine with a hot bulb warmed by blowlamps.

The Higham Pit Sinking Engine

This pit winding steam engine is reversible by a Stephenson link and is fitted with the necessary brake.

Markham A-frame portable steam engine

Markham portable steam engine was used when reboring cylinders of colliery winding engines. Here it is connected to a variable speed device by Crofts.

Tar pump steam engine

Tar pumping steam engine was manufactured in Wolverhampton.

Tangye horizontal stationary steam engine

Tangye engine made in Birmingham

The Gladstone tandem steam engine 1885

The Gladstone engine has been erected but cannot be operated. The base plate was scrapped before it could be rescued.

A de Lavalle steam turbine 1930

The De Lavalle steam turbine was manufactured under licence in Leeds by Greenwood & Batley.

Marshall steam traction engines

These Marshall traction engines were installed at Rotherham College for students to work on.

The Neepsend Gasworks Engine 1850

The Neepsend Gasworks engine ran the mortar mill so that the ovens could be bricked up when coal was converted to coke and town gas distilled off.

An Oscillating Steam Engine.

The oscillating engine piston rod is connected directly to the crank and the whole engine pivots during operation.

Small boat engine

 

Stephenson link reversing mechanism invented (by Mr Howie) at Robert Stephenson’s factory in Chesterfield.

Lawn mower engine

This twin cylinder lawnmower engine was manufactured in Leyland. The steam was raised by an oil burning heater.

Fairground Stationary Engine

This engine was installed on the shooting gallery. It may have powered the generator to provide electric lighting.

Small twin cylinder stationary steam engine

This steam engine was installed in a farm dairy

Wilson’s Snuff Mill steam engine 1845

This engine powered the mill whenever the water wheel lacked water. Pestles and mortars can be seen at Kelham Island Museum

A Nodding Donkey pump. It pumped up cooling water for a Huddersfield factory. Driven by an electric motor.

Wortley Top Forge is administered by the South Yorkshire Trades Historical Trust. Registered charity no 1093233 · Log in