Repairs completed at Sheffield's historic Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
Sheffield City Council says £1.3m repairs to a dam at the site are now finished
Repairs costing £1.3m have been finished on the dam at Sheffield’s Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet.
The historic site is Grade I listed and has a long history of metal production stretching back hundreds of years.
In 2021 'substantial' leaks were found in the corner of the dam on the site, putting it at risk of collapse.
The reservoir behind it was partially drained byt work has been ongoing since to refurbish the dam using traditional techniques which fit in with the historic nature of the site.
The pond behind the dam will now be carefully refilled, though this won't begin until September in order to protect nesting birds.
Preparations are also underway that will see the Hamlet’s waterwheels back in action from next spring.
While the site has been used to produce metals including iron and lead for hundreds of years, most of the buildings seen today at Abbeydale date to the 18th century.
Cllr Brian Holmshaw, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council said:
"This marks an historic moment in the long history of the scythe and steelworks at Abbeydale."
"Addressing this has saved one of the cornerstones of Britain’s industrial revolution. I’m delighted to see that this project has been completed and the hamlet is open for future generations to visit, learn from and enjoy."