Kirkaldy Testing Museum

About the museum

The building at 99 Southwark Street was set up by the engineer David Kirkaldy as an independent commercial laboratory for testing the strength of materials. It opened in 1874 and is described as the first purpose-built independent testing house of its kind in the world. The front of the building carries Kirkaldy’s motto “Facts not Opinions”.

Its centrepiece is the Universal Testing Machine, a 116-ton water-hydraulic machine that can apply a force of up to 1,000,000 pounds and can test samples up to 20 feet long in tension, compression, bending, shear and torsion. The machine still works. The building is Grade II* listed and is on the Heritage at Risk register.

The museum was founded in 1983 and is now run by a volunteer-based charity. Further machines from other laboratories and companies are on show, including hardness and impact testers, and the charity works with schools, especially on the materials section of A-level physics. The “Testing Works Revealed” project aims to repair the site and open it to more people.

Highlights

• Working 116-ton Kirkaldy Universal Testing Machine
• Riehle tension and compression machine from around 1890
• Impact and hardness testing machines
• Grade II* listed Victorian testing works

Permanent exhibition

• Kirkaldy Universal Testing Machine – The 116-ton hydraulic machine from 1874 is still in working order and is shown in action on tours.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Kirkaldy Testing Works volunteer charity

Admission & discounts

Standard tour £15 and premium tour £23. Online booking adds a booking fee; paying at the door (cash preferred, card accepted) avoids it.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A listing from London Open House says the ground floor is mostly level with one step up to Kirkaldy’s office, the basement is reached only by stairs, seating is available and the workshop floor is uneven in places.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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