Sheffield's historic toolmaking skills to be protected for future generations
A grant made possible by lottery players is saving an important aspect of Sheffield’s heritage for future generations.
The toolmaking skills of Sheffield were world-famous and there was a fear they may be lost for future generations.
But now they are being saved, thanks to a £228,381 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Ken Hawley Collection Trust, at the Kelham Island Museum, has landed the major funding boost for its new project, ‘Pride, Passion and Skills – Made in Sheffield,’ which will capture disappearing crafts, protect priceless industrial knowledge, and inspire young people to take pride in the city’s manufacturing past and its future.
Keith Crawshaw, chair of the trust, said: “This project will help preserve and share Sheffield’s world-famous tool and cutlery heritage, while creating new opportunities for people to learn skills, participate and feel pride in the city’s manufacturing past and present.
"Film crews working with young people from the University Technical College will capture the skills and processes at six local companies, Footprint Tools, Durham Duplex, Ernest Wrights, British Silverware, Thomas Flinn’s and Staniforth’s for future generation and their prospective employees.
“It will create new digital films, to add to our growing YouTube channel which has over 13,000 followers and 1.5 million visits online."
Two new interactive catalogues will also allow visitors to turn over the pages and marvel at the range of items made in Sheffield, along with a refreshed website to make more of the collection accessible to people across the UK and beyond, for people who may not be able to visit in person.
It will also offer hands-on opportunities such as work experience for young people, outreach activities for local communities, and a chance for volunteers and collectors to contribute knowledge, memories, and objects to a number of ‘digital galleries.
These will showcase some of the least accessible items in the Ken Hawley Collection, including the world’s largest collection of saws and micrometres, Sheffield’s famous pocket-knife makers Stan Shaw and George Wolstenholme.
Mr Crawshaw said: “The project will unlock and display for a worldwide audience, the enormous range of items made by James Dixon from tea pots to hip flasks.
“Alongside this public-facing work, “Pride, Passion and Skills – Made in Sheffield” will strengthen the long-term sustainability of the Ken Hawley Collection Trust by reviewing governance and IT systems, recruiting, and training new volunteers, and building stronger partnerships with local industry and education providers."
The Trust, based at Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield, holds over 100,000 objects which tell the story of Sheffield’s light trades – from cutlery and edge tools to measuring instruments and silversmithing.
It was built up over 30 years by Ken Hawley and is now cared for by volunteers and is of national and international importance, but much of the knowledge behind these objects – including skills, working practices and personal stories, is at risk of being lost.