News - Bid to preserve historic furnace (Wentworth)

VOLUNTEERS from a South Yorkshire history society have carried out a survey of a 300-year-old furnace and engine house as part of a project to rescue the historic structures.


South Yorkshire Industrial History Society is trying to save the Rockley complex on Wentworth Castle estate, Barnsley, one of the few early survivors from the county’s industrial revolution.

Now the society is set to announce its findings and plans for the site.

Society president Margaret Tylee said: “The last two harsh winters have taken their toll on the furnace and engine house.

“We have carried out the first comprehensive surveys of the site and its structures in order to understand them better and to find the best way to preserve them for the future.

“Lots of people visit the castle on the Wentworth estate and we’d love them to stop by and see the industrial heritage nearby which represents such an important part of South Yorkshire’s history.”

English Heritage has been working closely with the project, advising the society on the conservation of the two scheduled monuments.

The furnace was built between 1698 and 1704 to smelt local iron ore, while the engine house dates from 1813 and housed a pump to drain the mine nearby.

Volunteers are aiming to repair the monuments to save them for future generations.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/green-scene/bid-to-preserve-historic-furnace-1-4560643

Events - South Yorkshire Industrial History Society Summer Programme 2012

Events marked * are Society/Trust events. A selection of events from the Environment Weeks programme etc has also been included. Some are organised by our members, and some by affiliated/sister organizations.

Please note that for many of the walks you will need stout shoes, waterproofs and a packed lunch (we will be away from easy access to pubs/cafes in some cases). Contact names will be able to provide you with more details of access by bus and train. These details are included in the Environment Weeks brochures where appropriate. Contact details are given for each event.

Wednesday 9 May 6.30-8.30 pm: Victorian Society walk round Sheffield’s Victorian city centre, led by Valerie Bayliss. Meet at front steps of Town Hall, Pinstone Street. An Environment Weeks event. Contact: Valerie Bayliss 2307693

Wednesday 9th May 13:30-16:30 (approx) and on Friday 27th May 19:00-21:30 (approx) Kelham’s Riverside – a walk through the past and the future. Kelham Island and environs. Organised by SIMT/Upper Don Walk Trust. Meet at Kelham Island Museum Car Park. Contact: Robin Fielder 2580575

Friday 11th May 13:30-16:30 (approx). Kelham Island to Oughtibridge. Details as for 9th May. Return bus from Oughtibridge. Contact: Tony Canning 2348338

*Thursday 17th May 18:30-20:00 Rockley Furnace Survey Launch. St James’ Hall, Wentworth Castle, Stainborough, S75 3EN. ArcHeritage will present the results of their survey and archaeological and historical assessment. Contact: Tegwen Roberts 01226 767365 or tegwen@epip.org.uk to book a place

*Saturday 19th May 10:30 – 15:30 (approx.) Industrial History along the Upper River Sheaf. Leisurely all day walk of about 4miles (6km) to the Cross Scythes at Totley. Bring a packed lunch and stout shoes. Meet at the Millhouses Park café SK333 828. Contact: Graham Hague 2686729 or Christine Ball 2361471


*Monday 21st May 19:30-21:00 Coal mines of Buxton. Alan Roberts. Last lecture of the season at Kelham Island Museum. £2 admission charge for non-members. Contact: Christine Ball 2361471

Wednesday 23 May 6.30-8.30 pm. Victorian Society walk round the St Vincent’s Quarter, led by Graham Hague, looking at the surviving buildings of St Vincent’s Church and its schools, old workshops and other buildings. Meet in Paradise Square. Contact: Valerie Bayliss 2307693

Sunday 27th May 10:00-16:00 Water Power Walk. From Kelham Island (by the wheel pit) to Jordan Dam (Meadowhall). Organised by Sheffield Renewables to look at their two proposed sites for water power generation. Return by tram from Meadowhall/Tinsley South. Contact: Jean Tinsley 2508367

*Sunday 15th July Hoylandswaine Nail Forge. 11.00-16-00 Open day for the CBA Festival of British Archaeology. An opportunity to see the roof repairs and improvements. No charge, but donations welcome. Contact: Derek Bayliss 2307693

*Saturday 21 July 2.00 pm. SYIHS visit to Elsecar, led by Graham Hague and a guide from Barnsley Museums. Parking in the free car park off Wentworth Road, opposite Elsecar Park. Meet outside main gate of the Workshops in Wath Road. This is the second of our events to mark the 300th anniversary this year of Newcomen’s first atmospheric engine, and we hope to see the Elsecar Newcomen engine before work begins on its conservation. Then we shall look round the Workshops, and Graham will lead a walk round the village. No charge, but please book with Derek Bayliss (tel. 230 7693) by 7 July.

*Sunday 2nd September 11:00 -17:00 Model Engineers’ Open Day at Wortley Top Forge. Railways, refreshments, and the Forge! Visiting engines on the railway. More volunteers always needed.Contact Gordon Parkinson 2817991 or Ted Young 01226 763896

*Saturday 8th September. 11:00-16:00. Wortley Top Forge, Heritage Open Day. Free admission on this day, but donations welcome. Contact: Derek Bayliss 2307693

*Friday 7th (evening) and Sunday 11th September. 11:00-16:00. Hoylandswaine Nail Forge, Heritage Open Day. Free Admission, but donations welcome.Contact: Derek Bayliss 2307693

*Saturday 20th October Rotherham Heritage Fair [advance announcement]. In All Saints Minster Church. The Society will probably be having a stall; offers of help very welcome. Contact: Christine Ball 2361471 or Derek Bayliss 2307693

*Saturday 24th November South Yorkshire Archaeology Day [advance notice only]. At the Showroom. The Society will probably be having a stall as usual. Contact: Christine Ball 2361471

Events - Silkstone Waggonway Survey/Rockley Furnace and Engine House Survey (Silkstone/Stainborough)

Silkstone Waggonway Survey Launch - May 2nd (2012) 6.30pm, Pot House Hamlet, Silkstone


Over the past 6 months the Industrial Heritage Programme has been funding an archaeological survey of the Silkstone Waggonway - an early horse-drawn railway that carried coal and other minerals along the valley from Silkstone Common to Barnby Basin (at Cawthorne). The work has been carried out by ArcHeritage working in collaboration with the Roggins Local History Group and members of Heritage Silkstone and has included numerous archive visits, measured survey and using Ground-Penetrating-Radar (GPR) to find and map buried sleeper stones along the route. This research is now being brought together in a report, and the results (including some new discoveries) will be presented at a free public event at the Pot House Hamlet in Silkstone on May 2nd (2012). Come along and find out about the exciting industrial heritage on your doorstep!

There will also be a chance to visit Silkstone Church after the presentations to see some of the conservation work that is taking place there. For more information about the Silkstone Waggonway please visit the Roggins website - http://www.priorycampus.co.uk/rlhg/roggins.php?p=waggonway

Rockley Furnace and Engine House Survey Launch - May 17th (2012) 6.30pm, St. James' Hall, Wentworth Castle, Stainborough

Over the past 6 months the Industrial Heritage Programme has also been funding an in-depth archaeological survey of Rockley Furnace and Engine House, an early 18th century blast furnace and iron mining site on Rockley Lane (near Birdwell). This has also been carried out by ArcHeritage, this time in collaboration with the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society and has included 3d scanning of the entire site, including the Furnace and Engine House buildings. The results of this survey, including some of the fantastic 3-dimensional images, will be presented at a public event at Wentworth Castle, Stainborough on May 17th (2012). Come along and find out more about this national important, but little known, Industrial Heritage gem!

Both events start at 18.30 and are free, but places do need to be booked in advance via contact Tegwen (tegwen@epip.org.uk) Light refreshments will be served.