The workshops of the cutlery industry in Hallamshire, 1750-1900
The cutlery industry of Hallamshire, of which Sheffield was the natural centre, was established over 700 years ago. The cutlery industry was based on a multitude of small scale firms situated within Sheffield and the surrounding rural areas with a large number of water-powered sites used for grinding. The arrival of steam at the beginning of the nineteenth century allowed for the development of a few large integrated sites creating much needed accommodation for the growing industry. The workshop buildings have few distinguishing characteristics suggesting that they were not purpose built but could be used by a range of industries. Most of the money for erecting them came from speculators, although established businesses occasionally invested in purpose built property. Builders followed vernacular designs with only larger firms using architects to create frontages which conveyed signs of status. However structures housing individual branches of the trade can be identified from windows, floor construction and internal evidence of the processes carried out. Evidence for power sources comes largely from documentary sources but steam power did not have the same impact as in the textile industry and only with the
Beauchamp, Victoria Anne
History
The workshops of the cutlery industry in Hallamshire, 1750-1900. The cutlery industry of Hallamshire, of which Sheffield was the natural centre, was established over 700 years ago. The cutlery industry was based on a multitude of small scale firms situated within Sheffield and the surrounding rural areas with a large number of water-powered sites used for grinding. The arrival of steam at the beginning of the nineteenth century allowed for the development of a few large integrated sites creating much needed accommodation for the growing industry. The workshop buildings have few distinguishing characteristics suggesting that they were not purpose built but could be used by a range of industries. Most of the money for erecting them came from speculators, although established businesses occasionally invested in purpose built property. Builders followed vernacular designs with only larger firms using architects to create frontages which conveyed signs of status. However structures housing individual branches of the trade can be identified from windows, floor construction and internal evidence of the processes carried out. Evidence for power sources comes largely from documentary sources but steam power did not have the same impact as in the textile industry and only with the
workshop industry industry sheffield natural centre establish industry base multitude small_scale firm situate_within sheffield surround rural_area large_number water site use arrival steam beginning allow development large integrate site create much_need accommodation grow industry workshop building distinguish characteristic suggest purpose build could_use range industry money erect come although establish business occasionally invest purpose_built property follow vernacular design large firm use architect create convey sign status however structure housing individual branch trade identify window floor construction internal_evidence process carry_out evidence power source come largely documentary_source steam_power impact textile_industry