Shepherd Wheel

Opening Times

Open every Saturday and Sunday, and Bank Holidays

British Summer Time

10am to 4pm

Winter (GMT)

11am to 3pm

The Shepherd Wheel is an Eighteenth Century, water-powered grinding workshop, with origins at least as far back as 1584, when the Porter Wheel was mentioned in the will of William Beighton of Stumper Lawe, leased from the Earl of Shrewsbury. Edward Shepherd, who invested in the buildings and pond, leased the site in 1749 and gave it its present name. There were various owners of the business over the following centuries and was being worked by the Hind family when it finally closed in 1930. An extensive 5 year, £1 million restoration was completed in 2012, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Sheffield City Council and Friends of Porter Valley.

If you would like to visit the full address is:

Shepherd Wheel
Whiteley Woods
Off Hangingwater Road
Sheffield
S11 2YE

Please note: as Shepherd Wheel is in a park, there is no on-site car parking and there is a distance to walk from nearby roads, where parking is allowed. However, the site has level access for wheelchair users, cyclists, prams etc. There is no public toilet on site.

Join us as a volunteer at Shepherd Wheel!

You don't need any specific qualification, although an engineering background or working with groups are useful skills. But if you enjoy and are interested in meeting and talking to people about Shepherd Wheel, and Sheffield's industrial history; and are enthusiastic about sharing knowledge and understanding of this unique site, then volunteering could be for you!

How do I apply?

Please contact us using 'Contact Us' page, we will contact you about the next step.

Our Volunteers

Talk to visitors about the site, the location, and Sheffield ’s industrial history.
Work with a member of SIMT staff to keep the site tidy and visitors safe.
Have flexibility in the dates and times of their volunteering.

There are 2 hour slots from which to choose; (10 am -12), (12-2 pm) and (2-4 pm) in summer and (11-1 pm) and (1-3 pm) in winter. We ask that you try to offer once or twice a month – or more if you wish. You don't have to make a regular commitment, however a regular commitment will help to spread the task amongst the volunteer team.
Receive information and training support from a volunteer co-ordinator and from SIMT's engineers, who operate the machinery.