“Just a stone’s throw from Tate Modern, Kirkaldy’s Testing Works speaks to Southwark’s industrial past and the ingenuity and single-mindedness of one man, David Kirkaldy.” Salterton Arts Review
Welcome to London’s best working engineering museum and learning space — we want you to break something!
Machines in action — not glass cases
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works in Bankside is as important to Materials Testing as Greenwich is to Time.
This is where it started. And now we are inspiring future engineers.
David Kirkaldy’s 1874 engineering workshop, and his 116-ton Universal Testing Machine, still working, are of huge architectural, design and heritage importance: and unusually, both are Grade II* Listed. Today, their education potential is equally mighty. Each year hundreds of young people are getting hands-on with these historic working machines, seeing the fundamentals of physics — in action.
Everyone’s welcome here: to experience one of the most remarkable engineering heritage survivors in London, celebrate science and design, and support our STEM and STEAM work. And did we mention — you can break something!
Carved above the door is David Kirkaldy’s declaration ‘Facts not Opinions’. Inside, his 116 ton Universal Testing Machine, which set world standards for engineering, still breaks metal today. Come and see for yourself!
“Our visit was brought to life by your wonderful volunteers…What a stimulating time, and an amazing space. A huge thank you to you all!” The Bompas & Parr team
The Testing Works has a mission to support STEM and STEAM excellence. David Kirkaldy declared his faith in ‘Facts not Opinions’ right over the door. You can help us keep our doors open for tomorrow’s engineers, designers and innovators — visit, bring your group or hold your corporate event with us.
At ‘Facts Not Opinions’ we offer —
An inspiring learning space… Our working machines bring the fundamental principles of science and engineering to life, while Kirkaldy’s skill as a creative and technical draughtsman shows how design answers the challenges of our times. Ask us how
Volunteering opportunities… Help bring Kirkaldy’s Testing Works to life so we can open the doors more often! Join our team
Authentic, and working, Victorian engineering heritage … Book your tickets for a scheduled tour — and see the Universal Testing Machine in action.
Bespoke and exclusive group tours, as well as corporate and professional events, a venue for immersive art, filming, and more… Get in touch to see how we can help!
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Find out about our next open days:
On 1 January 1874 Scottish engineer David Kirkaldy opened the world’s first purpose-built, independent commercial materials testing house at 99 Southwark Street London. Inside, his patented 116-ton hydraulic-powered Universal Testing Machine could exert a force of up to 1,000,000lb, bringing rigorous new understanding to the strength of construction materials. Outside, he declared his independence over the door, ‘Facts Not Opinions’. The machine, and his challenge, are still here today.
Machines in action, not glass cases.
After three generations, and almost 100 years in business, Kirkaldy’s Testing Works now has a new mission. As a volunteer-run charity we open the unique, atmospheric workshop with its still-working Universal Testing Machine to our community, visitors, schools & colleges, engineers, artists – everyone who wants to discover and bring new life to this remarkable place, which changed the way we built our world.
It’s 150 years since the opening of the Testing & Experimenting Works at 99 Southwark Street, and today it runs entirely on volunteer power — why not join us? Help us safeguard, share and celebrate this remarkable place for the next generation! Find out how!
You can also support the Testing Works by making a donation.
