Industrial sites River Don, Yorkshire

river don

below oughtibridge, course of river marked series of weirs, used impound water, used power mills, hammers , grinding wheels. gradient of river bed less of of don s tributaries, required weirs spaced further apart, prevent water 1 mill backing , preventing next mill upstream operating. river falls 160 feet (49 m) between oughtibridge , brightside, distance of 8 miles (13 km), , 1600, there sufficient weirs no new ones built subsequently, although there cases additional mills built, used water existing weir. of mill buildings have long since gone, weirs remain. of weirs on section of don followed similar pattern, weir built @ angle across river, , goit or channel leading lower edge reservoir or dam running parallel river. after works, tail goit returned water river. water supply dam controlled shuttles raised allow water enter head goit.

the weir station lane, oughtibridge served upper middlewood forge, described tilt in sources, had tilt hammer raised , allowed drop shape metal. weir in order, although of original structure has been replaced concrete steps. next came middlewood works, rolling mill , slitting mill, splitting bars of iron thin strips manufacture of nails. 4 water wheels recorded in 1820s, , water power still being uses in 1900. site cleared after 1985, stone weir, 9 bays, remains. beeley wood or nova scotia tilts sizeable operation, 8 water wheels operating in 1830s, 4 wheels driving 2 forges, 2 driving bellows forges, , final 2 driving 2 tilt hammers. works recorded derelict 1895. in february 2016 environment agency removed middle two-thirds of beeley wood lower weir part of scheme allow free migration of fish , let river return more natural form. next works hawksley or clay wheels employed 54 men in 1794, , still using water power in 1895. site used make scythes until after 1941, when film, can seen @ kelham island museum, made of activity. weir has 5 bays, deteriorating.

wadsley weir supplied series of works situated east of river channel. wadsley bridge paper mill operational 1709, , tilt working 1806. wheel 16.5 feet (5.0 m) in diameter , 6.83 feet (2.08 m) wide when surveyed in 1855, time works had become niagara works. recorded forge still using water power in 1907. weir remains, shuttles controlled flow head goit, although channel has been built over. wadsley bridge corn mill, became forge around 1800, took water supply head goit of paper mill, later connected tail goit. wadsley furnace located in area. built earl of shrewsbury 1583, blast furnace thought have been defunct 1670s. final works in section wadsley forge or wardsend steel works, operational 1581 late 19th century, although precise function varied. in 1819, there 2 wheels supplying power 69 troughs, blades ground. 1849, described forge, , high pressure steam engine operational in 1855, supplement 15-foot (4.6 m) water wheel. dams out of use 1892, , parts of site occupied hillsborough football stadium.

near tail goit of wadsley works, don joined small tributary, on located rawsons mill or bark mill. mill building separated dam building of railway. mill housed grinding wheels in 1862, used milling corn in 1934. dam remains full, overflowing through culvert passes beneath railway. owlerton rolling mill next, located on west bank, destroyed fire around 1883. had been reconstructed 1907, when steam power assisted water wheels, , demolished in 1936. small part of weir remains. next weir supplied old park corn mill, built around 1673. in 1807 lease issued group of 32 tenants, included miller, grinders, cutlers, button maker, scissorsmith , ivory turner. in 20th century, known old park forge, , had presumably changed use. old park paper, silver or rolling mill followed. in 1795 had 12-foot (3.7 m) undershot wheel rolling copper plates, , of 18 feet (5.5 m) rolling silver. river loxley joins don opposite mill site, , building badly damaged great flood of 1864. tenant claimed £1,932 in compensation, , received £1,720. steam engine replaced large water wheel in 1875, , rest of works electrified in 1920. sheffield steel rolling co. continued work site until 1980.

sandbed wheel built in 1723, , 1794, there 3 water wheels supplying 52 grinding troughs. steam engine supplementing wheels 1886, wheels remained in use until @ least 1907. weir , shuttles controlling flow in head goit remain. below this, morton wheels known have existed in 1581. works became philadelphia works around 1807, , claim £6,204 made , received damage caused 1864 flood. next came kelham wheel, used cutlers wheel, silk mill, , cotton mill. following fires in 1792 , 1810, mill rebuilt use steam power, , became britannia corn mills after 1864. buildings demolished in 1975, weir remains in order, , 1 of largest in sheffield. below town corn mill , wheel, water powered until 1877, , subject of archaeological investigation in 1999, uncovered remains of wheel pits.

wicker tilts , wheel 2 works, grinding wheel known have been working in 1581, , tilt forge built in 1740s. second tilt added near lady s bridge 1752. grinding wheel, supplied 36 troughs, replaced wire mill in 1870s, , still using water power in 1895, time tilts using steam power. weir close lady s bridge, , head goit flowed through 1 of arches of bridge. thought there several goits in culverts near blonk street, exact extent unknown. culverted porter brook joins river sheaf, culverted, below sheffield railway station, , combined flows join don between lady s bridge , blonk street bridge.