- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 5,680
- Reaction score
- 11,382
1. The History
George Barnsley and sons were England's premier makers of forge filing and cutting tools for leather workers and shoe makers The company was founded in 1836 and was initially based on Wheeldon Street. Records show they moved to Cornhill in 1847 and then on to Cornish Place, on the River Don, just three years later. By this time they had expanded their product range to include steel files and butchers knives. George Barnsley was Master Cutler in 1883. The company grew throughout the 19th century and the Barnsley family were well thought of in the Steel city. Their 1944 listing identified them as manufactures of files and blades, shoe knives and leather workers tools. Four years later they became a Ltd company. George Barnsley died at his home at No. 30 Collegiate Crescent on 30th March 1958 where he lived with wife Mabel and mother-in-law Elizabeth.
Sadly, the factory became outdated and the inefficient production methods meant that the company could no longer keep pace with a competitive import market. With the costs of production growing George Barnsley's closed its doors in 2003. The site has sat derelict and unused ever since. The business is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Mowbray Manufacturing Co Ltd and operates from premises on Mowbray Street, Sheffield, along with its sister company Woodware Repetitions, who make the wooden handles for these and many other tools.
The site went on the market and was sold for redevelopment. After some initial clearing work of the vegetation the site has since been left while development work has progressed around it.
2. The Explore
One of the Sheffield Big Four (along with Megatron, Cannon Brewery and the old courts), I’ve been round this legendary place twice before. There’s so much to see you need at least two visits. Rumour had it that it was still a thing and doable so off me and my non-forum member mate went. Entry to GBs has always been interesting. Doable if you are in the know and prepared to go round the houses a bit. And go round the houses we did to get in. Once in we spent the best part of two hours looking around. So, it’s not quite the place it was three years but the big five draw cards are still here. The recent fire near to our entry point might make getting in here more difficult so glad when we went when we did.
So hello again one last time to one of the all-time great
abandoned factory spaces in the steel city.
3. The Pictures
And we’re in!
George B's 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
George B's 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Grinding wheel:
img9241 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Love this pulleys and wheels room:
img9249 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9251 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9256 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9258 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9260 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9263 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9265 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9266 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9268 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Don’t get too close to the edge:
img9269 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Looks like some kind of smithy:
img9272 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The long room:
img9275 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This place really is legendary:
img9277 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9278 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9280 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9281 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9282 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9283 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9284 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9286 by HughieDW, on Flickr
George B's 10 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back downstairs again:
img9289 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9291 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9293 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9294bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9297 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9299bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9300 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9302 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9300 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9302 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9303 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9306 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9307 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9308 by HughieDW, on Flickr
George Barnsley and sons were England's premier makers of forge filing and cutting tools for leather workers and shoe makers The company was founded in 1836 and was initially based on Wheeldon Street. Records show they moved to Cornhill in 1847 and then on to Cornish Place, on the River Don, just three years later. By this time they had expanded their product range to include steel files and butchers knives. George Barnsley was Master Cutler in 1883. The company grew throughout the 19th century and the Barnsley family were well thought of in the Steel city. Their 1944 listing identified them as manufactures of files and blades, shoe knives and leather workers tools. Four years later they became a Ltd company. George Barnsley died at his home at No. 30 Collegiate Crescent on 30th March 1958 where he lived with wife Mabel and mother-in-law Elizabeth.
Sadly, the factory became outdated and the inefficient production methods meant that the company could no longer keep pace with a competitive import market. With the costs of production growing George Barnsley's closed its doors in 2003. The site has sat derelict and unused ever since. The business is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Mowbray Manufacturing Co Ltd and operates from premises on Mowbray Street, Sheffield, along with its sister company Woodware Repetitions, who make the wooden handles for these and many other tools.
The site went on the market and was sold for redevelopment. After some initial clearing work of the vegetation the site has since been left while development work has progressed around it.
2. The Explore
One of the Sheffield Big Four (along with Megatron, Cannon Brewery and the old courts), I’ve been round this legendary place twice before. There’s so much to see you need at least two visits. Rumour had it that it was still a thing and doable so off me and my non-forum member mate went. Entry to GBs has always been interesting. Doable if you are in the know and prepared to go round the houses a bit. And go round the houses we did to get in. Once in we spent the best part of two hours looking around. So, it’s not quite the place it was three years but the big five draw cards are still here. The recent fire near to our entry point might make getting in here more difficult so glad when we went when we did.
So hello again one last time to one of the all-time great
abandoned factory spaces in the steel city.
3. The Pictures
And we’re in!
George B's 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
George B's 03 by HughieDW, on FlickrGrinding wheel:
img9241 by HughieDW, on FlickrLove this pulleys and wheels room:
img9249 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9251 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9256 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9258 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9260 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9263 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9265 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9266 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9268 by HughieDW, on FlickrDon’t get too close to the edge:
img9269 by HughieDW, on FlickrLooks like some kind of smithy:
img9272 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe long room:
img9275 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis place really is legendary:
img9277 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9278 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9280 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9281 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9282 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9283 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9284 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9286 by HughieDW, on Flickr
George B's 10 by HughieDW, on FlickrBack downstairs again:
img9289 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9291 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9293 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9294bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9297 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9299bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9300 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9302 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9300 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9302 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9303 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9306 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9307 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9308 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9309
img9310
img9311
img9316
img9323
img9325
img9326
George B's 11
George B's 13
George B's 15
George B's 16
George B's 23
George B's 25
