Open Day

The Kirkaldy Testing Museum, formerly "David Kirkaldy's Testing and Experimenting Works", was used by three generations of Kirkaldy's for the meticulous, independent testing of materials to be used in the construction of bridges, buildings and other structures to ensure integrity and safety.

Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers - David Kirkaldy's remarkable Universal Testing Machine weighing a massive 116 tons and more than 47 feet long, still survives today, testimony to the determination to keep this pioneering work alive in the heart of regenerating Bankside.

the museum's volunteers will show you around the unique Victorian workshop and tell you the story of the Kirkaldy family who ran the business for almost 100 years and the wider history of materials testing, first standardised by David Kirkaldy who revolutionised this vital aspect of engineering worldwide.

There are also many smaller testing machines in the museum and there will be a chance for visitors to try one of the machines to break a sample for themselves.

The museum will run special guided tours at 11am and 2pm for the SE1 community website visitors demonstrating a range of testing equipment.