Lunchtime Talk: West Bar – The Soho Wheel and the Developing Industrial Landscape of Sheffield

Discover how archaeology reveals the history of Sheffield's industrial development and the urbanisation of the city, looking in particular at recent excavation work at West Bar by York Archaeology.

At the heart of this talk is the Soho Grinding Wheel, a large purpose-built steam-powered grinding wheel, which illustrates the arrival of steam power in Sheffield and its role in contributing to the rapidly changing landscape along the riverside.  

The York Archaeology team will share further discoveries from the nearby works in the area, including crucible steel manufacture, cementation furnaces, a foundry and a small group of domestic houses that would have been nestled amongst the chimneys and crucible furnaces that came to dominate the urban landscape. 

Together, these finds offer a remarkable glimpse into a time when industry was reshaping Sheffield’s riverside communities and transforming the character of the city.

The work was funded by Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, with consulting by Prospect Archaeology.

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