Embrace Abbeydale improvement project enters final phase this winter

Since Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet reopened in April, work on the Embrace Abbeydale project has continued, building on the progress made on site during last year’s winter closure. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, work taking place the Hamlet in the last few months has included:

• Completion of the restoration of the water wheel which drives the Blowing Engine, using 696 bespoke bolts and a drive shaft made from a 200-year-old oak tree, thanks to the expertise of our Historic Engineering team.
  
  
• The completion of the Hamlet’s volunteer workshop, used by our skilled volunteers who generously help us look after the site. 
  
  
• Improvements to and extension of the car park, including improved drainage and ramp, as well as new markings and a new boundary fence to make it easier and safer for visitors and tenants to use.
  
  
• Installation of the Hamlet’s new play area featuring items voted for by Sheffield residents (more on that below), and a wider, gently sloped path by the Manager’s House to help visitors access it. The play area will be completed over winter with improvements to the surrounding fencing and a new gate.
  
  
• The development of a new sensory map created by talented illustrator, Emma Clements, which offers a more inclusive way for people to understand the site and what to expect from their visit.
  
  
• New free highlights tours, conceived, written and delivered by volunteers.

Embrace Abbeydale draws to a close over winter – here’s a sneak peak of what you can enjoy when you visit in spring 2026:

• The opening of the Hamlet’s new play area – made of timber and natural materials, it’s been designed to support imaginative, energetic play for our younger visitors (grown-ups, don’t worry – it also includes all-important picnic tables for adults to enjoy a well-earned rest).
  
  
• The refurbishment of two of the Worker’s Cottages to create a new welcome hub, including a new exhibition and shop. This space will introduce the story of the Hamlet and the people who lived and worked there through new displays and family activities.
  
  
• The introduction of industrial soundscapes in the Tilt Forge and Crucible Furnace bringing the sounds of the past to life.
  
  
• A reopening celebration, marking the completion of the Embrace Abbeydale project with activities and entertainment for the whole family. 
  
  
• Restoration of the boring shop by our talented volunteers.

Look out for information on the Hamlet reopening on our website and across our social media accounts in the New Year. To get our latest news and updates on all our upcoming events and exhibitions across the museums, sign up for our Mailing List here.

Alongside the improvements to the Hamlet, Sheffield City Council are planning the delivery of a major repair to the dam that supplies the waterwheels at the site. 

Currently, the water level in the millpond has been temporarily reduced to stop a leak in the dam posing a risk to the historic buildings, in particular the Grinding Hull. Sheffield City Council are in the process of finalising plans to carry out the repairs, which are complex due to both the logistics of the site and its historic significance, and are planned to begin in spring 2026. 

You can find more about the improvements to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, as well as information from Sheffield City Council on the repairs to the dam, in our FAQs at the link below. 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.