We’ve completed the first stage of a cutlery museum here at Portland Works.
At a special event in March, Master and Mistress Cutler, Craig and Karen McKay, were welcomed as our first guests. Also there were Irene Davy, Naomi Brent, John Nettleship and Ralph Basford from the Sheffield WEA, who sponsored the work, and Fiona Lemmon who donated much of the cutlery on display. Anna de Lange, our volunteer historian designed the room which was put together by our volunteer team over the winter.
At the event were our directors, tenants and volunteers who were delighted to complete another part of the Works. All the cutlery was made at the Works, much of it ‘Rusnorstain’ stainless steel but earlier work is here too. All of it celebrates the Robert F Mosley tradition of fine craftsmanship. Display cases, a storage unit and new lighting set off the collection and the room doubles up as an excellent small meeting room in the renovated ‘A Block’ area.
Our thanks go to Sheffield WEA whose donation came from their ‘Memories of Work’ books, an oral history project completed a few years ago. We recommend you get hold of the two volumes of this fascinating work, which includes an interview with a youthful Stuart.
