Places
Sheffield General Infirmary
Image courtesy of Picture Sheffield.
Sheffield General Infirmary. Reproduced with permission of the University of Sheffield Library .
A brief history
As Sheffield grew, the need for a hospital became apparent.
Sheffield General Infirmary opened in 1797 in Upperthorpe and was paid for by public subscriptions.
It became known as the Royal Infirmary in 1897, and finally closed its doors in 1980.
The hospital as a community
Many hospitals in the UK were not founded by the aristocracy and wealthier classes but by merchants and manufacturers.
Did you know?
The first fundraising events for the General Infirmary were concerts and festivals.
Yellow Arch Studios
A multifaceted creative space
Famous for being the birthplace of the Arctic Monkeys, Yellow Arch Studios has become a key landmark in the city. The studio opened in 1997 in a former factory, bringing creative influx to Neepsend. The area was starting to redevelop following the decline of industrial activity. Since 2015, Yellow Arch studios have also provided a performance space, bar, and event venue in addition to the recording studio. The space is an important landmark of the heritage of Sheffield, and a symbol of creativity in the area.
Upperthorpe Library
A space for the community
Upperthorpe library was founded as a community centre. It resisted pressure to close in the 20th century and continued to function as a hub for local communities. Now part of the Zest community centre, the library has books in several languages including Chinese, Urdu, and Somali.
Did you know?
In the 19th century, the library had separate reading rooms for men and women.
Image courtesy of Picture Sheffield
Titanic Works
From powerhouse to student house
Titanic works is a former factory built between 1850 and 1890, which closed in 1950. In 2008, part of the site was converted to student accommodation, and excavations took place by Wessex Archaeology between 2006 and 2008, prior to this redevelopment. The excavation revealed four buildings around a central courtyard and uncovered three furnaces. Titanic works produced crucible steel, which is a mixture of iron, steel, and sometimes sand melted in a crucible.
Above: Photo of Titanic Works courtesy of Wessex Archaeology.
But what is a crucible?
A crucible is a clay container used to melt metals that can resist very high temperatures.
Raw materials for steel were prepared, weighed and put into crucible pots to be heated in crucible furnaces. Temperatures in the crucible furnace reached 1600°C. The molten steel would then be carefully poured into ingot moulds. On passing quality tests, the cold ingots were taken by horse to a place, like Totley Rolling Mill, to be reduced in thickness and shaped.
Above: Used crucible. Courtesy of Sheffield Museums Trust.
Sheffield and crucible steel
Crucible steel actually originated in South Asia as early as 300 BCE. It was also used in the Middle Ages around the Middle East and Central Asia.
Benjamin Huntsman developed the technology in Sheffield in the 18th century, allowing the city to multiply its yearly production of steel by 40,000%. The Benjamin Huntsman pub in the city centre commemorates his contribution to the heritage of the city.
Above: Crucible by Mabel Sarah Hildick (1884-1979). Courtesy of Sheffield Museums Trust.