The Top Forge is first documented in 1623 (Bayliss 1995, 23). It was part of the Wortley estate but was leased to John Spencer in 1658 and was run by what became the successful Spencer Syndicate (Andrews 1975, 40). In the 18th century Wortley Ironworks owned the Upper and Lower forges and several mills along the river Don. There were continued developments in iron working. (ibid, 48). In the 19th century bar iron for use in the railways was produced. The forge closed in 1908. Iron workings couldn’t compete with mild Steel production (ibid, 55). The site of the forge was bought for preservation in 1953 and is now a museum. There no legibility of the former woodland in the current site.