Wortley Top Forge

The oldest surviving heavy iron forge in the world

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Privy

Ashes from the kitchen fire would be carried across the yard to be sieved (to rescue unburned coal) and for the fine absorbant ash to supply the earth closet.

When last in use in 1960s Barnsley council would cart away the nightsoil. In earlier generations the occupants of the cottages might have filled a trench in the garden before fertilising the cabbages the following year. Our early volunteers did find evidence of disposal to the tail goyt and hence to the river.

We now have clean toilet facilities beside the carpark with warm running water!

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