Sheffield is one of the most recognizable names in the entire United Kingdom, having a history that is intertwined with the industrial past of England and indeed the entire world. The history of Sheffield is in many ways the history of steel production and industrialisation. Although the modern day city may be widening its scope, both economically and culturally; the history of Sheffield can only be understood by talking about steel. The city of Sheffield became famous in the 19th century because of its steel production, and because of the new steel related innovations that were taking place there. The crucible process and the introduction of stainless steel both began in Sheffield and both have revolutionised the steel industry in different ways. As new urban redevelopments try to re brand the city of steel to some degree, museums make sure that no one forgets the amazing steel history of Sheffield.
Steel has been made for a long time, with the first steel known coming out of East Africa in 1400 BC. In the 4th century BC, steel weapons were produced and used in the Iberian Peninsula, and the Romans and the Chinese were also making steel around this time. While the nature and quality of this steel may be very different from what we know today, it goes to show just how long that humanity has had a relationship with the material of steel. The early history of modern steel used a process called the cementation process, which came from Italy in the 16th century and came to England soon after. The next step in the evolution of steel was the introduction of the crucible process, which began in Sheffield. Since this time of the 1740s, steel work has been linked with the city of Sheffield in a number of ways. The city even today has a number of steel related businesses like those that produce Prefabricated Garages (Fertig garagen) .
The industrial revolution saw a new growth in Sheffield during the 19th century, and steel production soared to new heights as demand grew in England and all around the world. Sheffield has always been known for its production of cutlery and steel tools, and there are still a number of factories producing cutlery in the city today. The method of coating cutlery with silver came from Sheffield as well, and dramatically increased the number of people who could afford silver cutlery at their dinner table. As well as large scale projects like buildings and prefabricated garages (http://www.fertiggarage.de) , lots of small steel components and devices have always been produced in Sheffield. Since the 1970s, the steel industry has slumped in the city and people now often have to look for other work opportunities. The city is trying to diversify its industries and include a number of other types of business as well.
The people of Sheffield are proud of their industrial past, and there are a number of great museums and workshops in the city that are dedicated to telling the story of steel. These attractions can be great entertainment for a whole family and many are interactive as well. The Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is an 18th century scythe workshop, complete with furnace and waterwheels. The Kelham Island Museum is a great place for any heritage enthusiast, as is the The Traditional Heritage Museum and the Weston Park Museum. These attractions are just the tip of the iceberg in Sheffield and there are many more great things to see and do. From the pre-fab concrete garage (Beton Fertiggarage) businesses that line the industrial estates to the new steel developments in the centre of the city; Sheffield will always have a relationship to steel and to what it represents in the modern world.