I is for Industry - Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, originally Abbeydale Works, was a major producer of agricultural tools and the largest water-powered industrial site on the River Sheaf. Dating back to at least 1713, it may have earlier origins linked to a 13th-century smithy by Beauchief Abbey monks and a rental record from 1685.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Sheffield's abundant streams and raw materials fueled its renowned cutlery industry. Abbeydale Works was among over 160 water-powered mills, manufacturing crown scythes, patent riveted scythes, and other agricultural tools.

The Goddard family’s 1777 tenancy spurred expansions, including the Tilt Forge (1742), Worker’s Cottage (1793), and Grinding Hull (1817). By the 1830s, the site featured a Crucible Steel furnace, hand forges, a warehouse, and offices. Later additions included the Manager’s House (1838) and Coach House and Stables (circa 1840).

The 19th century saw industrial strife and hazards, such as the 1842 gunpowder explosion and the 1862 shooting of Joshua Tyzack. The site remained operational until 1933, when Tyzack Sons and Turner ceased production. Briefly, during WWII, the Crucible Furnace was re-lit for steel production.

In 1935, the site was purchased by the J G Graves Trust, donated to Sheffield, and transformed into a museum by the Sheffield Museums Department in 1970. Now part of Sheffield Museums, a major restoration completed in 2016 preserves this significant historical site.