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Old whitewashed workshop with exposed wooden roof beams and a row of grinding wheels with ‘saddles’. Old whitewashed workshop with exposed wooden roof beams and a row of grinding wheels with ‘saddles’.

© Andy Brown

© Andy Brown

Grinding Hull

Continuing Display

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet

***The Grinding Hull is currently closed for a building inspection and maintenance. We look forward to welcoming you back to as soon as we're able***

 

See where edge tools were sharpened to a fine cutting edge in the Grinding Hull.

 

The Hull was built in 1817, and originally housed 6 grindstones and 2 glazing stones, all powered by a waterwheel. The stones were 6 feet in diameter when new and hung in a trough filled with water to keep the stone wet when grinding.

Grinding was a very dangerous occupation, with the grinder sat astride a wooden horsing, or saddle, over the stone and held the blade against the stone as it spun round.

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***The Hamlet is currently closed for the winter until spring 2025. During this time, we'll be continuing work on Embrace Abbeydale, a two-year programme of improvement works generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.***

Joni, the Hamlet cafe, is open daily throughout the winter

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet

Abbeydale Road South

Sheffield

S7 2QW

Grinding Hull

© Andy Brown

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See Sheffield’s knife grinding history brought to life at Shepherd Wheel Workshop.

Experience the working waterwheel and machinery in action, see the tools of the trade and hear stories about the grinders who worked here over the centuries.

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