United Kingdom

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet

Industrial museum and scythe works, Sheffield, England

Location

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Historical Context

About

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is an industrial museum in the south of the City of Sheffield, England. The museum forms part of a former steel-working site on the River Sheaf, with a history going back to at least the 13th century. It consists of a number of dwellings and workshops that were formerly the Abbeydale Works—a scythe-making plant that was in operation until the 1930s—and is a remarkably complete example of a 19th-century works. The works are atypical in that much of the production process was completed on the same site (in a similar manner to a modern factory). A more typical example of water-powered works in the area can be found at Shepherd Wheel. The site is a scheduled monument, the works are Grade I listed and the workers' cottages, counting house, and manager's house are Grade II* listed.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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History extends to 13th century

13th century

Evidence of metalworking before 1200

before 1200

New Wheel mentioned in rent books

1685

First formal record of Abbey Dale Works

1714

1725 map names Sinder Hills

1725

Tyzak Sons and Turner tenancy began

1849

1924 map used in restoration

1924

Scythe works closed

1933

Bought by Graves Trust and donated

1935

Reopened briefly for the Second World War

1939–1945

Restoration work began

1964

Opened as a museum

1970

Council closure

1997

Reopened by Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust

1998

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Water Management Features

Dams
category

Public and Civic Structures

Administrative Buildings
category

Industrial and Craft Structures

WorkshopsSmithiesToolmakers’ Areas
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Houses
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

53.33° N, -1.51° E