Report - George Barnsley's Cornish Works, Sheffield April 2023

[mookster]

I was a bit surprised to find that the last set of photos from here was a full two years ago by @HughieD - I was in the area after a couple of busts further south and as @CookieRaider had mentioned to me that he'd never been and more than heavily hinted he'd like to see it if possible, we decided to spring an impromptu unplanned visit to one of the all time great locations. My one other visit was way back in January 2015, more than eight years prior, and if I'm honest I was more than happy to go back because it's such a lovely place.

Access here is always interesting to find and tends to change a fair bit from what I recall, although it is relatively simple at the moment if you know where to look and don't mind a squeeze and being a bit blatant. We turned up with no idea on the current state of play and managed to work it out by eliminating all other options - in the eight or so years that passed between my previous visit and now all sorts of renovation and conversion works have happened to the buildings surrounding it and it's changed so much compared to my hazy memories from 2015 so the previous route I used definitely wasn't an option!

The buildings are more decayed, more rotten and more messy now however it's still so good, it's genuinely like stepping into another world in here. There are a few locations that have stood the test of time for many years despite getting more ruined yet are still considered all-time greats - the likes of Tone Mills Dyehouse, St. Joseph's Seminary, etc - and this place is undoubtedly one of them and will be remembered fondly when it's gone, whenever that might be.

I was happy enough to go back in and of itself but I also managed to find numerous little areas I hadn't shot back in 2015 as well as find a hidden in plain sight staircase that led to the roof of one of the outlying buildings providing an awesome view over the whole factory, and an awesome view of us for the office workers in the building overlooking the roof no doubt.

History from @HughieD 's post, in case you've somehow been living under a rock all this time.
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George Barnsley and sons were England's premier makers of forge filing and cutting tools for leather workers and shoemakers. 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.​

These stairs up to the fourth floor looked so sketchy underneath now that we didn't even try them, the ones getting up to the third floor were bad enough at the top.

Thanks for looking

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[host]

Always a winner

 

[Calamity Jane]

Fab photos. The decay is great here. Loving that last shot. Lone chairs give a certain ambience, cracking fav.

 

[dave]

Yes agreed even in its current state still a pleasure to see it. Thanks for the update btw i wonder how long it will stay like this.

 

[HughieD]

Still an all-time classic that you have more than done justice to with your excellent set of pics mate.

 

[tumbles]

An all time classic. Mad to think I walked across some of the walkways years ago..

 

[Ojay]

Long…. But what did you have for breakfast

 

[jezzyboo]

great pics from my home city

 

[mookster]

An all time classic. Mad to think I walked across some of the walkways years ago..

Eight years ago the walkway into the room with the walls of pigeon holes only had one pallet on it for support, now the wood and pallets gradually placed there are as rotten as the remains of the floor under it so there's a long bit of timber someone's found to bridge the gap now. The outside walkways are pretty much non existent nowadays!

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

One of my all time favourites and alway will be.

 

[tumbles]

Eight years ago the walkway into the room with the walls of pigeon holes only had one pallet on it for support, now the wood and pallets gradually placed there are as rotten as the remains of the floor under it so there's a long bit of timber someone's found to bridge the gap now. The outside walkways are pretty much non existent nowadays!

Yep I think I walked across the outer one to the room with the foundry 😬

 

[JaffaTB]

Still my favorite place ever, been many times over the years with it being a 10 min drive away

 

[Grom]

Christ I really need to get myself here, it's such a classic location and close enough that I don't really have an excuse not to go!

 

[Bikin Glynn]

always great to see

 

[Webbs0710]

Really need to get my act together and get in here... Failed twice, need to look harder I think 😂