Britain's oldest manufacturing operation for sale
Britain's oldest manufacturing operation, which was founded by medieval monks, is up for sale.
Kirkstall Forge, near Leeds, produces heavy axles for commercial vehicles.
The firm was established 800 years ago by monks from Kirkstall Abbey.
Two years ago a whole forging plant was transferred to Kirkstall from Thyssen in Germany because the Leeds operation was more efficient.
It has now been put on the market by its US owners Dana Spicer.
Dana's Kirkstall facility, which has 200 staff, supplies forgings for parts of axles and equipment used in the oil and gas industry.
Kirkstall Abbey was founded in 1152 by a party of Cistercian monks from Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.
In 1200 the monks set up the forge which has been in use ever since.
The abbey was closed in November 1539 when Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of religious houses. The ruin has since become a picturesque tourist attraction.
