Little Mesters continue tradition at Kelham Island Museum

Galvanize Sheffield - Festival of Contemporary Metal 6 Nov - 6 Dec 2009

Little Mesters continue 'Made in Sheffield' tradition at Kelham Island Museum

Little Mesters, independent Sheffield craftsmen responsible for the city's legendary reputation in cutlery and master craftsmanship, showcased their skilled tradition at the ‘Sheffield Made' open day at Kelham Island Museum on Sunday 15 November.

The event, one of many taking place across the city between 6 November and 6 December as part of ‘Galvanize Sheffield - Festival of Contemporary Metal', allowed Museum visitors the chance to see Little Mesters, Pete Goss and Stan Shaw, at work in their workshops.

Based in the Museum's reconstructed 'Little Mesters' Street, the resident master craftsmen make up two of the few remaining Little Mesters left in the city, producing a variety of products including Penknives and Surgical Instruments that are sold all over the world.

Joining them inside the Museum, Ernest Wright (Kutrite) provided a shining display of handmade scissors, produced utilising skills and processes first learned by the Little Mesters and passed down from master to apprentice at their family-run company based locally in the Kelham Island area since 1902.

The Cutlery Hosptial Live team, part of Chimo Holdings, were at hand to give advice and some good old fashioned TLC to cutlery brought along by Museum visitors wanting to restore their tired, old and infirm tableware to its former glory.

In the courtyard, Ridgeway Forge demonstrated traditional forge work and helped youngsters make their very own ‘forged' iron snails to take home and treasure.

The Little Mesters, along with Ridgeway Forge, Ernest Wright (Kutrite) and the Cutlery Hospital Live team will also be appearing at the Kelham Island Museum Victorian Christmas Market on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December.

A Day in the Life of a Sheffield Toolmaker

During the October half-term school holidays children and adults had the opportunity to become toolmakers past and present.

They dressed as grinders and buffer girls from the 1850s, the gaffer and workers from the 1950s and steelmakers today in the 2000s. They were then put to work grinding and buffing.
A retired buffer girl showed everyone how it was done!

Visitors were able to see a display of tools from the Hawley Collection which is being moved to a new gallery at Kelham Island Museum, opening in spring 2010.

Children decorated tools and added them to a Giant Tool Wall. The designer of the best-decorated tool won a free family ticket to the Victorian Christmas Market at Kelham Island, 5/6 Dec 09. Ken Hawley even came along to see what the children were up to!

If you came during the holidays, can you spot your tool on the wall?

Come and take part in more free activities at the Victorian Christmas Market and on Tuesday and Wednesday in the February half-term holiday, and watch out for news of the opening of the Hawley Gallery in Spring 2010!

The costumes used are from the Renaissance Partnerships Project ‘The Changing Face of Work in Sheffield' and will become part of a new interactive gallery, the Crucible Shop, where visitors will be able to experience the working life of a steelworker in the 1850s, 1950s and today.