Sheffield’s Old Factories & Workshops (Pic Heavy)

[Bartleby]

I have been receiving "Beer Matters" from a good friend who lives in Sheffield, brewery is a major industry. Take at least a week to do a proper pub crawl!

 

[Captain Howdy]

Awsome post. Though it's very disheartening to see these old structure which once were cornerstones of an entire city fall to decay. Unfortunately much of the Hudson River valley looks the same. Old industrial cities lined with prewar buildings now either abandoned and crumbling or converted into boutiques and coffee shops.

 

[Aias]

Dear Jack-- that was a wonderful Sunday morning treat. Thanks so much for taking the time to write and post pics. It all oozes with history and those building and streets are clearly haunted by a world long gone. It's the stuff of 19th century literature and social theory--I've spent a lot of time studying the era, so your pictures spoke to my imagination in a special way. Thanks again for taking the time. Cheers my friend.

 

[flatblackcapo]

What a great bunch of photos,thanks Jack!

 

[Jack Black]

Jack: Just fantastic! Thank you for the time you put into that. It's really quite an interesting thing to see. I love that old industrial architecture. It's a shame some of those great old buildings will wither away and actually a shame some will be turned into trendy apartments and the like. It's happening all over the US too. Reading your comment about canoeing in the river, reminded me of the time one of our rivers in the midwest caught on fire, the pollution was that bad.

Thanks Alan Yes, all across Europe too I remember the river always used to be rainbow-streaked with oil when I was a kid, it didn't stop people swimming in it! The pollution must have been really bad for it to catch fire my friend!

I have been receiving "Beer Matters" from a good friend who lives in Sheffield, brewery is a major industry. Take at least a week to do a proper pub crawl!

Good stuff (magazine of the Sheffield branch of the Campaign for Real Ale). In the old days, many cutlers combined their work with running a pub or ale-house, and Sheffield had more pubs than any other place in Britain. There are many times fewer pubs now, even than when I was young, but Sheffield still has some good ones I think. I once worked in the city's Exchange Brewery, on the banks of the Don, parts of which went back to the 16th century. Sadly, that too is yuppie apartments now, and all the old Sheffield breweries are gone. There are however, some excellent new ones

 

[Jack Black]

Awsome post. Though it's very disheartening to see these old structure which once were cornerstones of an entire city fall to decay. Unfortunately much of the Hudson River valley looks the same. Old industrial cities lined with prewar buildings now either abandoned and crumbling or converted into boutiques and coffee shops.

Thanks Captain That's sad to hear about the Hudson though :thumbup:

Dear Jack-- that was a wonderful Sunday morning treat. Thanks so much for taking the time to write and post pics. It all oozes with history and those building and streets are clearly haunted by a world long gone. It's the stuff of 19th century literature and social theory--I've spent a lot of time studying the era, so your pictures spoke to my imagination in a special way. Thanks again for taking the time. Cheers my friend.

Thank you my friend Walking some of those streets is quite eerie, and it's hard to believe that you are just a short walk from the centre of one of England's major cities.

What a great bunch of photos,thanks Jack!

Thanks pal :thumbup:

 

[Bartleby]

Thanks Alan Yes, all across Europe too I remember the river always used to be rainbow-streaked with oil when I was a kid, it didn't stop people swimming in it! The pollution must have been really bad for it to catch fire my friend!



Good stuff (magazine of the Sheffield branch of the Campaign for Real Ale). In the old days, many cutlers combined their work with running a pub or ale-house, and Sheffield had more pubs than any other place in Britain. There are many times fewer pubs now, even than when I was young, but Sheffield still has some good ones I think. I once worked in the city's Exchange Brewery, on the banks of the Don, parts of which went back to the 16th century. Sadly, that too is yuppie apartments now, and all the old Sheffield breweries are gone. There are however, some excellent new ones

There must have been some number back in the day! Steve says they have 30 pubs in the vicinity, many as a result of the real ale movement. He sent a pint of Thornbridge last year for my birthday. It took forever to clear customs, but well worth the wait!

 

[donn]

Good stuff (magazine of the Sheffield branch of the Campaign for Real Ale). In the old days, many cutlers combined their work with running a pub or ale-house, and Sheffield had more pubs than any other place in Britain. There are many times fewer pubs now, even than when I was young, but Sheffield still has some good ones I think. I once worked in the city's Exchange Brewery, on the banks of the Don, parts of which went back to the 16th century. Sadly, that too is yuppie apartments now, and all the old Sheffield breweries are gone. There are however, some excellent new ones

I still remember with fondness Wards Best Bitter. A mate of mine from Sheffield regarded it as the Henderson's Relish of the ale world; but that brewery is all just fancy apartments now as well
An amazing post Jack, thanks for putting that together. I used to spend alot of time in Sheff' and thought I knew the city well enoughish, but looking at your photos it's obvious I don't know it at all.

 

[Jack Black]

There must have been some number back in the day! Steve says they have 30 pubs in the vicinity, many as a result of the real ale movement. He sent a pint of Thornbridge last year for my birthday. It took forever to clear customs, but well worth the wait!

It may have run into thousands! Excellent :thumbup:

I still remember with fondness Wards Best Bitter. A mate of mine from Sheffield regarded it as the Henderson's Relish of the ale world; but that brewery is all just fancy apartments now as well
An amazing post Jack, thanks for putting that together. I used to spend alot of time in Sheff' and thought I knew the city well enoughish, but looking at your photos it's obvious I don't know it at all.

Me too Donn, there was nothing quite like it. I used to live very close to the brewery, and once applied for a job there. Thank you my friend, let me know if you fancy a stroll down some of those old streets :thumbup:

 

[waynorth]

A fascinating and thought-provoking tour, Jack! Thanks for taking us along!!

It was interesting to recognize a name or two, and imagine some knives I have held being shipped from those buildings!

Quite a tease to see "Wharncliffe" over a doorway!!

Very heartening to see the fisherman at the end!!

 

[Half/Stop]

Jack Black, my friend, thank you for taking the time to share all this history with us. This is a priceless photo safari for those of us who may never walk the streets where all this Cutlery history resides! My hats off to you good sir!

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you very much gents, hope you're both having a lovely Sunday :thumbup:

 

[Mason Knives]

Great pictures jack, really interesting, thank you.
My poor old relatives will be spinning in there graves seeing those. My Grandad used to take me to see all his old pals (which normally involved a Pub, or three) who worked in the Steel industry. Some of their tales were so funny, it used to make my sides hurt
Maybe something will be done to preserve them, i hope so:thumbup:

Have a great week, and will give you a ring soon to catch up.

Cheers

Paul

 

[btb01]

Jack, thank you for the wonderful photo tour of all that beautiful Sheffield industrial architecture. Sadly, I don't think we'll ever see structures like that built for industrial purposes ever again (or for any purpose, for that matter).

I love that old industrial architecture. It's a shame some of those great old buildings will wither away and actually a shame some will be turned into trendy apartments and the like. It's happening all over the US too.

Alan, unless I'm misunderstanding the second part of your statement (which is certainly possible), I'd have to say I disagree with you about it being a shame that some of these old buildings have been or will be turned into trendy apartments or something like that. In areas where this type of architecture exists as a relic from industries that are no longer there, I think the absolute best thing that can happen is that these buildings be repurposed into something that will actually be used, whether that's housing, shopping, or some other type of business (seems like, in the US at least, many of these old industrial buildings get new life as micro-breweries). Any kind of use that preserves at least some of this architecture seems preferable to the buildings left empty to crumble or being demolished and replaced with new construction.

 

[chuko]

Thanks Jack. The photos put some real background and context for the early Sheffield pieces in my collection. The photos add a great deal to my appreciation of what once was. Appreciate you taking the time to collect the pics and share them with us.

Charles

 

[Jack Black]

Great pictures jack, really interesting, thank you.
My poor old relatives will be spinning in there graves seeing those. My Grandad used to take me to see all his old pals (which normally involved a Pub, or three) who worked in the Steel industry. Some of their tales were so funny, it used to make my sides hurt
Maybe something will be done to preserve them, i hope so:thumbup:

Have a great week, and will give you a ring soon to catch up.

Thanks Paul, those photos represent just the tiniest fraction of the works which once stood in Sheffield. I remember the old pubs close to the steel works. The steel-workers were almost their entire trade. They'd start pulling pints about 9.00pm, and lining them up on the bar. The shift finished at 10.00pm, but pubs had to stop serving at 10.30pm in those days, so all the workers would get three pints, and the first just went straight down!

Look forward to talking to you my friend :thumbup:

Jack, thank you for the wonderful photo tour of all that beautiful Sheffield industrial architecture. Sadly, I don't think we'll ever see structures like that built for industrial purposes ever again (or for any purpose, for that matter).

Thanks Barrett, I'm afraid you're right. I included a photo of a brass foundry, which is still working. Now they just have a 'tin shed', whereas their old place had huge brass statues of Greek gods on the roof! Even the relatively modest factories had great architecture.:thumbup:

Thanks Jack. The photos put some real background and context for the early Sheffield pieces in my collection. The photos add a great deal to my appreciation of what once was. Appreciate you taking the time to collect the pics and share them with us.

Thank you very much Charles

 

[Bartleby]

In my mind, it is interesting to compare the state of the buildings that housed the companies to the state of the objects which were made in them. These little objects of utility created by the souls of the people that were behind the hands that crafted them. A really fine hand crafted Sheffield made knife, especially from the period when the city was at its height is an object that is recognized instinctively for its quality. When we collect them, we hold and preserve an example of an effort by several people to create a small bit of perfection. Seeing the impressive architecture of the buildings that housed these people, often in a life long occupation of hard work and low pay making these little objects that connect us directly to the past, as well as all those who helped them make the journey from their hands to ours, is quite inspiring. I wonder how amazed the young apprentice cutlers first entering the trade in one of the larger works would be to see that the little objects made their efforts would outlast not only the company, but the buildings themselves.

Thanks very much for the photo essay, Jack. Good stuff for reflection!

 

[AShearer]

Jack, thank you for the wonderful photo tour of all that beautiful Sheffield industrial architecture. Sadly, I don't think we'll ever see structures like that built for industrial purposes ever again (or for any purpose, for that matter).



Alan, unless I'm misunderstanding the second part of your statement (which is certainly possible), I'd have to say I disagree with you about it being a shame that some of these old buildings have been or will be turned into trendy apartments or something like that. In areas where this type of architecture exists as a relic from industries that are no longer there, I think the absolute best thing that can happen is that these buildings be repurposed into something that will actually be used, whether that's housing, shopping, or some other type of business (seems like, in the US at least, many of these old industrial buildings get new life as micro-breweries). Any kind of use that preserves at least some of this architecture seems preferable to the buildings left empty to crumble or being demolished and replaced with new construction.

Barrett

No, you did not misunderstand. I agree with your thought that, given the alternative, repurposing is better. I guess I was getting a little nostalgic for the old factory centers, and so, got a little carried away. You must admit though that sometimes what starts out as a decent reuse, ends up as a joke of a shell.

 

[deltaboy]

Great History. We need them back up and running.

 

[glennbad]

Thank you for taking the time to post all of those great pictures. It is sad to see the once thriving industry falling into disrepair. In my area, we had mill buildings all along the Merrimack River. I think there was a lot of textile manufacturing. Many of the buildings were dormant, but are being renovated for commercial space and apartments. I guess that is better than them being torn down.