Portland Works
Encyclopedia
Portland Works is a former cutlery
works in the Highfield area of Sheffield
in England. Built in 1877, it is now a Grade II* listed building with a wide variety of cultural uses.
in 1995, it still retained hand forge
s and a steam grinding room.
In 1913, Portland Works became the first place in the world to manufacture stainless steel
cutlery and this remains, to this day, the site's main industry. The city of Sheffield
in itself is now strongly associated with its steel
industry heritage not least in sporting world, with the ice hockey
team known as the Sheffield Steelers
and one of the local football teams, Sheffield United being nicknamed 'The Blades'. Bramall Lane
, Sheffield United's football ground, is within walking distance of Portland Works.
and art
scene. Bands such as 'The Gentlemen' use the area to practise, as do Reverend and the Makers
and a fairly recently formed band known as 'Hold Your Fire'. The latter band use Portland Works to practise every weekend, and it is doubtful they would exist as a band without it.
created by any of the artists in Portland Works is that depicting the ghost
of Portland Works (a painting by Mary Sewell).
in favour of the Portland Works site being saved. The Portland Works website states that it would need between £500,000 to £750,000 to be raised through shares to save the site from being converted to flats.
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
works in the Highfield area of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in England. Built in 1877, it is now a Grade II* listed building with a wide variety of cultural uses.
History
The building was constructed in the late 1870s as a cutlery works. Three two- to three-storey ranges of brick-built workshops and a range of former offices and showrooms lie around a courtyard containing an octagonal chimney and some more recent structures. The central part of the rear range of workshops was reduced from three to two stories, following a fire. It was occupied for many years by R. F. Mosley, before being split into separate workshops. When first constructed, it was partially mechanised. When surveyed by English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
in 1995, it still retained hand forge
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
s and a steam grinding room.
In 1913, Portland Works became the first place in the world to manufacture stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
cutlery and this remains, to this day, the site's main industry. The city of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in itself is now strongly associated with its steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
industry heritage not least in sporting world, with the ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team known as the Sheffield Steelers
Sheffield Steelers
The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
and one of the local football teams, Sheffield United being nicknamed 'The Blades'. Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, Sheffield United's football ground, is within walking distance of Portland Works.
Musicians
Portland Works has recently come to be an area associated with the musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
scene. Bands such as 'The Gentlemen' use the area to practise, as do Reverend and the Makers
Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers are an indie pop band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend"...
and a fairly recently formed band known as 'Hold Your Fire'. The latter band use Portland Works to practise every weekend, and it is doubtful they would exist as a band without it.
Artists
As well as musicians, there a number of artists that make use of the space at Portland Works including Clare Hughes, Mary Sewell and Nuala Price. One of the most notable pieces of artworkWork of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
created by any of the artists in Portland Works is that depicting the ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
of Portland Works (a painting by Mary Sewell).
The Campaign
In 2009, a planning application was submitted for Portland Works to be converted into residential flats. As a result of this, the members have set up a campaign to save the Portland Works site from this happening, and over 100 people have signed a petitionPetition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
in favour of the Portland Works site being saved. The Portland Works website states that it would need between £500,000 to £750,000 to be raised through shares to save the site from being converted to flats.