A HISTORIC piece of industrial machinery is set to go on display in a Thurgoland museum for the first time in over 60 years.

Wortley Top Forge Industrial Museum is gearing up to display a vintage steamroller that is just shy of its 100th birthday.

The former Stocksbridge Urban District Council steamroller was built by John Fowler and Co, of Leeds in 1927 - and since the year 2000 the machine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt with new parts.

The steamroller is set to be presented by John Ward on July 19 at the museum, with locals being invited to stop by between 10am and 4pm.

The roller features a winch which was used for tethering to a loaded lorry for working on steep hills such as Victoria Street, in Stocksbridge.

Though it hasn’t been exhibited since its working days, John has been hard at work prepping the steamroller for display.

John will also show a 1905 Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co two-tonne wagon which has also been completely rebuilt with many new parts made.

The museum are moving at full steam ahead, with a miniature railway and miniature steam traction engines running, alongside two mill engines.

The event is priced at £5 for adults and £1 for children and funds raised will go towards preserving the forge and keeping the museum running.

Vern Brown, a trustee of Wortley Top Forge Industrial Museum, said: “It’s the first time the steamroller has been shown locally in about 65 years.

“I think it’s a good day out, it’s a really historic site and it’s one of the few heavy forges left.

“We’ve tried to make a bit of a day out of it and we’d love to encourage people to see it while they can.

“We’ve tried our best to preserve the forge and to make it affordable for everyone to visit.”(