Waterwheel
See the restored waterwheel turn
Shepherd Wheel Workshop
For now, Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Shepherd Wheel Workshop will remain closed. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Open every weekend & Bank Holiday Monday
A unique working example of Sheffield’s knife grinding industry
Explore the picturesque Porter Valley and the water-powered workshops along Sheffield’s rivers
Hear stories about the grinders who worked here over the centuries
Set in the picturesque valley of the Porter Brook, Shepherd Wheel is a unique working example of Sheffield's knife grinding industry.
It was one of many small water-powered grinding workshops along Sheffield's rivers and is the earliest complete example of this industry with evidence dating it back to the 1500s.
In this workshop, in dark, damp conditions, skilled grinders produced fine, sharp cutting edges. It was not until the 1930s that grinding ceased and the Wheel's pivotal role in Sheffield's cutlery industry ended.
See the restored working waterwheel and machinery in action along with the tools of the trade for cutlery grinding and hear stories about the grinders who worked here over the centuries at this Grade II listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Shepherd Wheel received £1million Heritage Lottery Funding for restoration of the waterwheel and site and eopened to the public in April 2012. Find out more about the restoration project below.
Shepherd Wheel Map
What's on
Sorry, no event information is available at the moment.
Grinding Hulls
Hear stories about the grinders who worked here
The Porter Valley
Explore the picturesque Porter Valley
HLF Restoration Project
HLF Restoration Project
Dam
The water to turn the wheel comes from the large dam where water is diverted from the River Porter.