Kirkstall Forge

Kirkstall Forge is a 57-acre mixed-use development located in Kirkstall in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The site is one of the oldest most continuously used industrial sites in England. It was operated by Kirkstall Forge Engineering, a metalworking business. It was a working forge until 1995 when the site was bought by Commercial Estates Group who have had plans approved to build 1,050 homes, 300,000 sq ft of office space, 100,000 sq ft of leisure and retail and a primary school. In June 2016 a railway station was opened on the site served by trains between Leeds and Bradford.

In the 19th century, as well as ironforging, the metalworking business produced axles for horse-drawn vehicles. As motor vehicles became more common, in the early 20th century, the forge specialised in motor vehicle axles and in steel bar. During the First World War, forging was stopped, allowing the business to concentrate on axle production. During the Second World War, production expanded to meet the demand for military vehicles, and the site was camouflaged to reduce the risk of bombing raids.^[1]