Jump to content

History of Sheffield steel industry and people


Recommended Posts

This may be an old post but here goes: How much did Michael Faraday and Henry Bessemer and their inventive principles have to do with the 'Sheffield industrial revolution' ? Neither were born in Sheffield and I have no info of them residing there. Yet two adjoining streets in Attercliffe (Brightside) seem to commemorate them (the old 'Low Drop' was exactly there !). I suppose where the nearby works and former premises of 'Woodhouse and Rixon', 'Arthur Lee' etc once were had something to do with that. I notice that as well as Faraday and Bessemer other great innovators from that era i.e: George Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel did not receive 'Knighthoods' or similar. Yet in today's world that can be bestowed for having along running television show or being a football team manager !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This may be an old post but here goes: How much did Michael Faraday and Henry Bessemer and their inventive principles have to do with the 'Sheffield industrial revolution' ? Neither were born in Sheffield and I have no info of them residing there. Yet two adjoining streets in Attercliffe (Brightside) seem to commemorate them (the old 'Low Drop' was exactly there !). I suppose where the nearby works and former premises of 'Woodhouse and Rixon', 'Arthur Lee' etc once were had something to do with that. I notice that as well as Faraday and Bessemer other great innovators from that era i.e: George Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel did not receive 'Knighthoods' or similar. Yet in today's world that can be bestowed for having along running television show or being a football team manager !

 

Far more important to have a Sir Cliff, Mick, Paul and Rod surely:rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can not believe that anyone could make such comments regarding Bessemer and Faraday. Surely the levels of education have not gone so low as to see things like this on Sheffield Forum.

 

Could be, but most of it is satire.

 

I left school at 15, but remember they took us to see symphony concerts at City Hall, and sent us apprentices to that same City Hall, to hear the "Faraday Lectures". A classical music program "For the Schools" at 11.am gave me my lifelong love of classical music.

 

It's all on YouTube now, I presume.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Far more important to have a Sir Cliff, Mick, Paul and Rod surely:rolleyes:

 

How did Jagger and (especially) Stewart qualify ? I believe they live outside the U.K. for tax purposes, very patriotic ! And as for 'the Mod', I would rather hear Michael Faraday and Henry Bessemer sing !

Edited by stpetre
add
Link to comment
Share on other sites

How did Jagger and (especially) Stewart qualify ? I believe they live outside the U.K. for tax purposes, very patriotic ! And as for 'the Mod', I would rather hear Michael Faraday and Henry Bessemer sing !

 

Tom Jones and Sean Connery were "tax exiles" during all of their big earning years. My wife has seen Connery's mansion in the Bahamas. Knighthoods are meaningless these days, that's why David Bowie refused one four years ago.

Faraday and Bessemer eh? Has a kind of Simon and Garfunkel feel to it, don't you think?:cool:

Edited by TORONTONY
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tom Jones and Sean Connery were "tax exiles" during all of their big earning years. My wife has seen Connery's mansion in the Bahamas. Knighthoods are meaningless these days, that's why David Bowie refused one four years ago.

Faraday and Bessemer eh? Has a kind of Simon and Garfunkel feel to it, don't you think?:cool:

 

Yes and no Mr.T. When the achievements of the singing duo surpass those of the other two great industrial pioneers and their contribution to better the modern world (and Sheffield), then perhaps !

Edited by stpetre
add
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Geoffrey Tweedale's book "Giants of Sheffield Steel" is an excellent read about ten Sheffield-born 'giants' from the golden age of steelmaking. It was published in 1986 by Sheffield City Libraries; City Archives will no doubt have a copy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...

I realise this post is old. I am wanting to find out about Attercliffe steel works during the late 30s and early 40s .  I no longer live in Sheffield and the internet is not giving me the information I need. Can any one help?  I am looking for memories (whether your own or stories you were told) of what it was like, sights, smells etc. Conditions, difficulty of jobs etc. What the area looked like. Thanks in advance :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.