Welcome to Wortley Top Forge – an ancient location that dates back to the 17th century with tales of disembodied screams and menacing shadow figures that strike fear into staff and visitors alike!

Embark on a ghost hunt like no other at Wortley Top Forge in South Yorkshire, a location steeped in history and mystery. Join the Haunted Rooms Team for a thrilling night of ghost hunting, exploring the dark corners of this ancient forge that dates back to the mid-1600s.

Your adventure begins at 8.00 pm, with arrival time at 7.45 pm. The evening will begin with a brief history of Wortley Forge, a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Grade I) that celebrates the history of ironworking in Britain. You’ll then be guided through an induction and safety briefing, followed by an introduction to the night’s activities.

Together with our experienced investigators, you’ll engage in structured vigils using an array of different equipment and techniques. From dark shadowy figures to haunting screams, previous ghost hunters have witnessed incredible activity at this location. You’ll have the chance to explore the cottages, workshops, and all the most haunted areas after dark, guided by an experienced, friendly member of the Haunted Rooms team.

Staff who work at the building, as well as previous ghost hunters, have reported numerous ghostly experiences that have sent many of them running for the exit, never to return!

Some reports include:

• Shadowy Figures: Dark and mysterious figures have been seen lurking in the corners of the forge, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
• Cistercian Monks: Evidence suggests that Cistercian monks may have settled in this area as early as the 11th century, and their spiritual presence is still felt today.
• Poltergeist Activity: Objects moving on their own, unexplained noises, and haunting screams have been witnessed, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the location.

With such rich history and stories of paranormal activity, Wortley Top Forge offers an unforgettable ghost hunting experience.

Spots will fill up quickly for this one, so hurry and book now!

Deposits are available for just £20.

What's Included

• Night investigating with the Haunted Rooms team,
• Group Vigils including table tipping, Séance, and more,
• Lone Vigils,
• Use of Paranormal Equipment,
• Psychic Medium, (*availability permitting – we do endeavour to have a psychic medium at every event, however sometimes circumstances can prevail),
• Snacks and refreshments.

Wortley Top Forge History

Wortley Top Forge stands as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Grade I), a symbol of Britain’s rich ironworking history, especially in South Yorkshire. As the only surviving water-powered heavy wrought iron forge with its original water wheels and hammers now restored, it is a site of national importance.

Unlike the typical association of the Industrial Revolution with steam power, Wortley Top Forge made significant contributions using only the power of its three water wheels. Nestled in the Don Valley, with access to ironstone, coppiced timber for charcoal, and water power, it was a hub for iron-making since the 1300s. The location was ideal for iron-making, and the Forge’s construction was strategic, built before 1640 by Sir Francis Wortley in a loop of the river Don to maximize water availability.

The Forge was leased after the Civil War by the Spencer syndicate of Cannon Hall and dominated the iron industry in South Yorkshire for the next 100 years. In 1713, the Forge was extended by Matthew Wilson, who managed five works on this stretch of the river for his Spencer in-laws. In the 1740s, Matthew’s nephew John Cockshutt added the Tin Mill down the river, and from the 1760s, his son John Cockshutt II was making innovative changes, taking out patents and building the Forge’s original air pump in 1770.

A second son, James Cockshutt, was mentored early by John Smeaton, the celebrated civil engineer (who later sponsored his Fellowship of the Royal Society). James spent time in Wales and, in partnership with Richard Crawshay at Cyfarthfa Works near Merthyr Tydfil, was responsible for introducing Henry Cort’s puddling process for converting pig iron into wrought iron. In the 1790s, James returned to manage Wortley Forges and was the first to introduce Cort’s process in England.

The rich history of Wortley Forge, filled with innovation, strategic growth, and a unique approach to iron-making, makes it a fascinating destination. Its legacy continues to be a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the past, preserving a vital piece of Britain’s industrial heritage.

Access & Parking

Event Location: Forge Ln, Thurgoland, Sheffield S35 7DN

Time: 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM (Arrive from earliest 7:45 PM)

Parking: There is free onsite parking.

Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of the venue, the location is unfortunately not wheelchair friendly. The location is also not suitable for those with mobility issues.

Please Note: All guests must be 18 years or older. Not suitable for those who are heavily pregnant. Guests are strongly advised to wear comfortable shoes and warm layered clothing on colder nights.

What to Bring

You’re welcome to bring your own equipment, though we will be providing paranormal equipment to use.

The investigation will be in darkness so please bring a torch with you.

Although snacks and drinks are provided, you’re welcome to bring your own. There are also facilities to make both hot and cold drinks, which are provided also.

And of course, bring your phone/camera with you, the more pictures we have the better chance we have of capturing something!

Other than that, just yourself and an open mind!

What to Expect

On your ghost hunt with Haunted Rooms, you will have full exclusive access to the most haunted areas of this historic location. Together with our friendly team of investigators, you will join others on structured vigils, where you’ll have the chance to use some paranormal equipment and join in on group vigils such as Ouija board sessions, and seance.

Our event starts at 8.00 pm but you can arrive at the earliest 7.45 pm. Structured investigations will end around 12-1 am, at which point you will have the opportunity to investigate this location on your own using the techniques and information you have been provided with.

You will have the chance to look around the building before the event to familiarise yourself with its layout. Shortly before the event kicks off, we’ll run you through a quick induction and safety briefing, followed by a short talk and introduction from our team. You’ll then split into smaller groups with your family and/or friends if you’ve come together, and we’ll begin our vigils for the night!

If you have your own paranormal equipment we encourage you to bring it, if not we can provide them free of charge. Snacks, refreshments, and treats will be provided at intervals throughout the night, and we’ll have facilities to make hot and cold drinks too.

We do endeavour to have mediums and sensitives with us for every event, although circumstances out of our control can sometimes prevent this. Anybody that has sensitive abilities we encourage you to come forward, as it only increases the energy and enjoyment for all in attendance.

To get the most from the evening we encourage you to try your hand at as many things as you can, and if you’re feeling particularly brave you should give a lone vigil a try, as well as joining in with our table tipping experiments as we try to commune with the spirits and ghosts of the building.

Please dress weather appropriately, with extra layers of clothing if it’s cold, plus comfortable shoes and a torch if you need one.

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