My studio is in an area of Sheffield where there was once a lot of industry, last week I took my camera and had a wander around the streets to have a closer look at the factories where the best steel in the world once came from.
Sadly, most of these factories have long since shut and cutlery that once proudly bore the "Made in Sheffield" mark is bought in Ikea and manufactured in far off places. The factories have been left untouched since they last shut their machines off, and although hopefully the area will be regenerated in the future; its nice to see the history of the city.
I love the photo at the top; Robert Neill & Co was an electrical works on Scotland Street; it didn't shut down but moved and is still in business. The pub next to it was The Queen's Hotel; it opened in 1928 and closed in 1997 after most of it's trade from the surrounding works had disappeared. Although from the trees growing out of the windows I guessed it had been shut down much longer!
Sadly, most of these factories have long since shut and cutlery that once proudly bore the "Made in Sheffield" mark is bought in Ikea and manufactured in far off places. The factories have been left untouched since they last shut their machines off, and although hopefully the area will be regenerated in the future; its nice to see the history of the city.
I love the photo at the top; Robert Neill & Co was an electrical works on Scotland Street; it didn't shut down but moved and is still in business. The pub next to it was The Queen's Hotel; it opened in 1928 and closed in 1997 after most of it's trade from the surrounding works had disappeared. Although from the trees growing out of the windows I guessed it had been shut down much longer!
(Above) The building on the left is a Brass Founders, and is still very much in business! The photo on the right is a different story; I couldn't see the name of the factory but the delivery times were still on the side of their gates. They had an early start, but a nice 40 minute dinner break!
(Above) I have no idea what the building on the left is, all I know is that the ghosts that have been painted on the boarded up windows freak me out! The one on the right is Record Ridgway, manufacturers of augers, bits, wood-boring, motorising tools, vices and clamps (whatever that all is!); they moved production to China in 1998. There are some pictures of the inside of the building as it is now here.
(Above) Williams Brothers of Sheffield was situated on Green Lane in the Kelham Island area of Sheffield from 1877 until 1997 when it move to another area of Sheffield. They dealt in steel files, spring bolts and nuts, nails, screws and aluminium, as well as being agents for firebricks and pot clays. The building is pretty much an empty shell but the area is being regenerated so hopefully it won't be left unloved for much longer!
(Above) On the left is another view of the Williams Brother building, you can see how derelict it is! Despite the Alfred Beckett & Sons building looking in much better shape, it's no longer a factory but a set of residential apartments and offices. It was founded in the mid 19th century as a steel, saw and file manufacturer and suffered huge damage in the 1864 flood (more on that below): “The works of Messrs. Beckett and Slater, steel, saw, and file manufacturers, were injured to a serious extent. The boundary wall was carried away, and a large steam engine boiler was torn from its bed, and washed down some hundreds of yards into the works of Messrs. Wheatman and Smith. A quantity of machinery was broken to pieces, furnaces were extinguished, and various finished goods were spoiled.” Sheffield Flood website
(Above left) The two floods that Sheffield has experienced have been commemorated on the side of The Fat Cat pub in Kelham Island. The flood in 1864 was a result of the Dale Dyke Dam collapsing; it swept through Sheffield, killing 240 people and destroying many buildings, homes and factories. The flood in 2007 wasn't quite as extreme, although it did plenty of damage! This time the River Don broke its banks and it flooded many parts of Sheffield, including the Meadowhall shopping centre and Hillsborough football stadium.
(Above right) The Globe Steel Works was built by the Ibbotson Brothers in 1824, they seem to have had factories all over Sheffield, and were manufacturers of steel, saws and files. It also seems to be the site of the Sheffield Workhouse, although I'm not 100% on that as different sources place it in different places.
(Above right) The Globe Steel Works was built by the Ibbotson Brothers in 1824, they seem to have had factories all over Sheffield, and were manufacturers of steel, saws and files. It also seems to be the site of the Sheffield Workhouse, although I'm not 100% on that as different sources place it in different places.
(Above left) The Kelham Island Industrial Museum is situated on one of the oldest industrial sites in Sheffield, dating back to the 1180s. It has been used as a grinding workshop, an iron foundry, an electricity generating station and now a museum displaying Sheffield's industrial past. The building on the right is John Watts, a cutlery manufacturer founded in 1765. Its an odd factory in that it absorbed cottages and dwellings in to it, and became a jigsaw of 90 rooms over five floors. The building has now been renovated and reverted to flats and housing, I think its a brilliant example of how we can preserve history and rescue buildings from ruin.
Sheffield is a city finally moving forward; there's building work everywhere, we have amazing small businesses that are reviving areas once destroyed by the decline of the city's industrial background. Hopefully some of these factories and works above can be saved while remaining part of our cultural history.
I hope that didn't feel too much like a boring history lesson, I've had a lot of fun taking the pictures and researching the area!
Laura x
Sheffield is a city finally moving forward; there's building work everywhere, we have amazing small businesses that are reviving areas once destroyed by the decline of the city's industrial background. Hopefully some of these factories and works above can be saved while remaining part of our cultural history.
I hope that didn't feel too much like a boring history lesson, I've had a lot of fun taking the pictures and researching the area!
Laura x