Description

LEEDS

SE2536 ABBEY ROAD, Kirkstall
714-1/18/889 (South side)
26/09/63 Kirkstall Forge: forge buildings
with helve-hammers, slitting mill
machinery
(Formerly Listed as:
ABBEY ROAD, Kirkstall
(South side)
Forge Buildings cont'ning
Helve-Hammers, Slitting Mill
etc...at Kirkstall Forge)

GV II

Forge complex, remains. Buildings probably late C18 for the
Beecroft and Butler families, machinery possibly earlier.
Earliest remains with helve-hammer in roofless building of
coursed squared gritstone with round-arched openings and
standing over the former mill goit.
The later wheel and hammer are housed in the attached block to
NE: round-arched and flat-headed openings, roofed over with
corrugated asbestos. This building also contains 2 c1850s
drop-forge stamps, steam driven to Naylor's Patent, one larger
than the other.
HISTORICAL NOTE: a bloomery to transform iron ore to
wrought-iron was established by John, Lord Savile c1590. In
1618 the complex, with water courses, was leased out and by
1690 the new weir was built at Newlay and the improved forge
was part of the Spencer group of iron works.
In 1779 control passed to the Beecroft and Butler families and
extensive building work undertaken, including slitting mills,
workshops, cottages, chapel, shop, brewhouse; small items were
made for the urban market, from shovels to pudding dishes.
Steam power was introduced 1835-45 and larger objects were
made, steam engines, cranes, pumps etc. The Beecroft and
Butler involvement came to an end in 1878. The forge continued
making railway lines and axles and in the C20 a change was
made to motor vehicle axles. In 1974 the firm was taken over
by GKN Axles.
(Brears P: The Leeds Heritage Trail: 1993-).

Listing NGR: SE2502836512

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26548124

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)