Reviews of Kirkaldy’s Testing Works. (Museum) in London (London).
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works
99 Southwark St, London SE1 0JF, United Kingdom
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Information of Kirkaldy’s Testing Works, Museum in London (London)
On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.
This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.
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Reviews of Kirkaldy’s Testing Works
L. S.Fascinating glimpse of mechanical engineering testing from the past! The museum may only be open once a month, but its space is full of machines that can make physics live for those interested in engineering, and give a fascinating insight into niche Victorian and Edwardian industry for those leaning towards history. Each tour is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers, who are incredibly enthusiastic. If you can, stay for the machine test run - it's a weird and wonderful stretching of metal to breaking point and has incredible tension (excuse the pun). Well worth a couple of hours on a Sunday!
C. C.Inside the 1860s brick building, just behind Tate Modern, are wonderful examples of 19th century engineering used to test the tensile strength of various materials at the factory between 1866 and 1965.
The main feature is the original 1865 Leeds-built Universal Testing Machine which is in full working order and lovingly maintained by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers.
2020 is the bicentenary of David Kirkaldy's birth in Dundee.
Kirkaldy was an extraordinary man even by Victorian standards; he deserves to be better known and his contribution to Victorian engineering more appreciated.
The museum volunteers are on hand on the last Sunday each month to explain the history of the Kirkaldys, and practical historical applications of the machines.
G. M.If you're interested in Engineering it's a fun diversion. Hats off to the volunteers who were all charming and give their time. I enjoyed it, but I'm a Nerd.
D. B.Very quirky museum to the art and science of testing materials to destruction. Run by highly knowledgeable volunteers and the highlight is the massive proving and testing machine produced by victorian James Kirkaldy. Only occasionally open. Well worth doing the tours of the building. The machine is sometimes in operation.
F. W.Really interesting little museum telling the story of metal material testing and how Kirkaldy built the first independent material testing facility.
Guided tour is highly recommended, the guide explains the different aspects of material testing as well as how the machines works in a superb way. Easy to understand even if one is not an engineer.
M.I've been meaning to visit Kirkaldy's for ages but have struggled because it's only open on the first Sunday of the month. I'm so pleased that I finally made it. What a wonderful old place. It smells like oil and metal and wood. The volunteers are all brilliant, so committed to the museum. It's really inspiring to go and see them running the big universal testing machine. Usually they run it at 2pm. It's exciting to watch the massive aparatus pull a rod of cast iron until it snaps like dry spagetti. The rest of the museum is wonderfully underveloped. There's clearly no fat cat salaries being paid here. Definitely worth a visit. Also you should give them money - they really are operating on a shoe string.
J. S.For interested young and knowledgeable old, a unique experience. Real working kit, that has been used on world famous projects, gives an insight into the true challenges of Victorian engineering. Expert and inspiring tour guide!
N. F.I heard about this place just as I was planning a social bike ride that always takes place on the first Sunday of the month and as Kirkcaldy's only opens on the same day, I was intrigued. I am fascinated with Britain's industrial past, so to find a place that is a living testament to our heritage was sweet indeed. To find that Kirkaldy's began with analysis of the Tay Bridge disaster and continued to the crashes of the Comet made me want to go there even more.
I was not disappointed, and to see something that was still in its original location and still in operation was a bit of a treat for me. The staff, volunteers all, were knowledgeable and enthusiastic, willingly answering all the questions bar one. The music to their introductory video intrigued me, as it was a horn concerto that was NOT by Mozart, as confirmed by a fellow visitor, a horn player in the LSO, if I recall correctly. It turns out that the volunteer staff are as sick of the video as she and I are of the Mozart concerti, so I never did find out.
That didn't detract from a great visit to a special place, and the £5 entry fee was a bargain. If you get the chance, GO!
C. C.Small museum telling the remarkable story of David kirkaldy, who designed his 116 ton testing machine in 1864. It's still at 99 southwark Street today. Fascinating tour by enthusiastic volunteers.
C. A. M.Very cool giant testing machine, one of the foundations of the Industrial Revolution, and lots of other testing apparatus. This is really a gear- head place. Staff are very friendly and enthusiastic. Check website to find a day when the big testing machine will be running.
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