Shepherd Wheel Workshop

About the museum

Shepherd Wheel is a Grade II listed building and Scheduled Monument in the Porter Valley in the west of Sheffield. It dates back to the 1500s and was one of many small water-powered grinding workshops along the city's rivers. It supported Sheffield's cutlery trade until the 1930s and is described as the earliest complete example of its kind.

The site was closed in 1997 and passed to the management of the Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust in 1998; it is now run by Sheffield Museums.

Visitors can see a working waterwheel and grinding machinery, two grinding workshops (hulls) with the tools of the trade, and walk along the dam that powers the wheel. The site's engineer and volunteers explain the history and the stories of the grinders who worked there over the centuries.

Highlights

• Working waterwheel and grinding machinery
• Two grinding hulls with the tools of the cutlery trade
• Walk along the dam that powers the wheel
• Grade II listed Scheduled Monument in woodland setting

Permanent exhibition

• Grinding hulls and waterwheel – Two grinding workshops with machinery and tools of the trade, driven by a working waterwheel.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Sheffield Museums Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; visitors are asked to give a suggested donation of 5 pounds.

Accessibility

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

One area can only be reached by steps and the surfaces are rough and uneven in places. The route from Hangingwater Road is a gentle incline to the Porter Brook path (about 5 minutes on foot), and the route from Rustlings Road is level but takes 10 to 15 minutes; the main park path has a wheelchair-suitable surface. There are no toilets on site; the nearest public toilets are in Endcliffe Park (about 1.5 km) and the nearest Changing Places toilet is at The Moor Market. Seating is available in the rear courtyard and in the park, some automated audio interpretation is offered, a visual story can be downloaded, and trained assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The workshop is in Whiteley Woods and can only be reached on foot, about a 10-minute walk from Endcliffe Park.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit