Thurgoland Wire Works at River Mill Farm

The Thurgoland Wire Works, located at River Mill Farm, is a former wire works, likely dating from the mid-18th century, although it may have earlier origins with subsequent additions and alterations. The building is constructed of coursed squared stone and thinly-coursed stone, with a brick addition (which is not of particular interest). The roofs are covered in coated stone slate and Welsh slate. The original building comprises a four-bay north-south range, with a short gabled wing projecting from the left (south) bay, a brick addition masking the third bay, and a three-bay wing projecting at an obtuse angle from the right (north) bay.

The east front features a stack at the left corner. The left wing has quoins and a double door where a window once stood. To the right of the wing is a quoined doorway, situated significantly above ground level and now glazed with small-pane glazing above. Adjacent to this is a two-light flat-faced mullion window with extended lintel and cill, also containing small-pane glazing. A further identical two-light mullion window is positioned to the right. The third bay shows inserted walling and a doorway, with an altered window at the upper level. The wing on the right has quoins at the left angle, an inserted window, a two-light window without a mullion to the gable, and a further blind bay with plain gutter brackets. The left return of this wing features a blocked quoined doorway, two-light windows on each floor (the lower one without a mullion, the upper one part-blocked), an inserted doorway below a similar window (also without a mullion), and a Welsh slate roofed section. Later brick stacks are situated at the junctions of the roof with the main range, on the front roof pitch of the right bay, and at the right end of the right bay.

The left return (south gable) shows stonework indicating the former position of a water wheel, with a central rectangular shaft hole. A central inserted doorway, now a window with a twelve-pane side-sliding sash set in an apex, is located above. This gable is later than the wall below and is constructed of thinly-coursed stone.

Inside the main range, the aisle along the west side features a post straight-braced to the arcade plate (with one brace removed), large-scantling platts, purlins, and rafters, with a king-post roof truss at the south end. The north wing contains square stone columns along the north side and an iron hearth.

A map from 1775 ("The Environs of Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Penistone") shows a watermill on the site. Subsequent maps from 1804 and 1815 depict the same building, labelled as "The new wire mill" and "New Hill" respectively.