Latest News from Portland Works
You can keep up with developments here at Portland Works in our news archive below. Please also subscribe to our social media accounts to hear the news first and join in the conversation.
The Campaign to Save Portland Works
January – December 2009, early days By Julia Udall Architectural Researcher Portland Works is a place that captures people’s imagination. Throughout the campaign I have had the pleasure of inviting numerous people to the Works- and each one leaves wanting…
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Timeline of Portland Works’ Occupation
Since the creation of Portland Works in 1879, a number of businesses have occupied the building. While this is not a comprehensive list, we are able to know the details of each businesses that paid a subscription to be entered…
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The History of “Integrated Works” Buildings
In order to contextualise the history of Portland Works it is necessary to provide the reader with a brief introduction to Sheffield’s industrial past. The city’s industrial heritage is rooted in the production of steel and the manufacture of ‘edge…
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Portland Works’ Grade II* Listing
Portland Works was awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 1995 and subsequently upgraded to Grade II* listed status in 2007 following an updated survey of Sheffield’s historic metal trades sites. Grade II* is the second highest listed…
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Portland Works and the Invention of Stainless Steel
One of eight siblings born into poverty near the Wicker, Sheffield, Harry Brearley (1871-1948) could be considered an unlikely individual to make a revolutionary metallurgic discovery. At the age of twelve he was taken on as a ‘cellar boy’ at…
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The Birth of Portland Works
Portland Works is situated on Randall Street close to Bramall Lane (“The Blades” as Sheffield United FC is known) at its junction with Hill Street and forms part of an important enclave of 11 surviving nineteenth century industrial buildings. Commissioned…
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Maker Feature: Pippa Elliot Rugs
Pippa Elliot is one of Portland Works’ newest tenants: A luxury holiday tour manager for four to five months of the year and now, a self-teaching rug maker for the rest. She is not only establishing her business in Portland…
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Recent Repairs
Over the last few months, Mark Pickering has been leading a team of volunteers to improve the front aspect of the building, renovating the woodwork and windows along Hill Street and now into Randall Street. Further work has been done…
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Secrets of “The Works”
When one of our new tenants was replacing a section of ceiling in their unit, they uncovered something between the joists of the unit above. It turned out to be over twenty items of old cutlery that seemed to have…
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