Phoenix Bessemer Steel Works

By the 1830s the Phoenix Works were one of the leading works for the production of large iron forgings producing marine engines, paddle wheels shafts, crank axles and crank throws using water powered tilt hammers. They were based on a large site near the river Don at Templeborough.

The Phoenix Bessemer Steel Works were founded in 1871 but failed in 1875. The assets were purchased by Henry Steel and the firm was them known as Steel, Peech and Hampton. Hampton left the board in 1883 and was replace d by William Henry Peech. Under the name Steel, Peech and Tozer the company became a major force in the production of steel in Britain. The plant was greatly expanded with cogging mills, rail mills and plants for the manufacture of steel springs and railway axles. The Bessemer converters were replaced by three open hearth furnaces by 1897.

In Rotherham the name of Steel, Peech and Tozer was synonymous with steel production well into the 20th Century.