Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is holding an event on Sunday 2nd August to celebrate a tradition known as Lammas Day, which marks the first harvest of the season and will rejoice the sight and smells of seasonal produce.

Lammas Day is also known as loaf mass day, and originates from medieval times. During the event, families will be invited to join in with the wide range of entertainment that is taking place, including demonstrations from local craftspeople and activities such as the Lammas Ribbon Dance.

Niki Connolly, Events and Marketing Officer for Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust commented

"Lammas Day is the third family Sunday event of the 2009 season and is part of our free event programme called 'Abbeydale Family Sunday's'.

"Since the announcement that Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet has removed all admission charges, we’ve had a very positive response from the families that have visited us. Everything at the Lammas event will be provided for free and it’s a fantastic opportunity to visit the museum and get involved with some fun activities and entertainment."

Visitors will be taken back in time as the entertainment will be provided by a number of characters from the ‘good old days at the former Industrial Hamlet. Characters will include a Victorian Poacher, named Bill, who will display his campfire cooking and tell tales of ferreting, rabbiting and ratting. Bill will be joined by a Victorian Housekeeper, who will demonstrate Victorian baking for the visiting crowds.

Also at the event, Sainsbury’s will join-in the loaf making theme and provide tasting sessions of a variety of breads and seasonal foods. Local businesses Abbeydale Garden Centre and ‘Wild Star Food’ will also join in with the ‘grow your own’ theme.

Lammas day was originally celebrated on the first day of August to mark the first wheat harvest of the year, when it was customary to take a loaf of bread to church, made from the new crop.

Kelham Island Museum re-opens the doors of its much loved children’s play area - The Melting Shop - on Sunday 26 July 2009. Its refurbishment marks the last phase of the museum re-display since the floods of 2007 and coincides with the Museum offering free entrance to everyone during the Sheffield School Summer Holidays.

The Melting Shop gives children the chance to follow the process of making steel in a hands-on way. Kids will love being melted like iron in our swirling ball pool before being poured, rolled and hammered and then shaped into a finished product which could be anything from a steel fork to a submarine!

Also located in The Melting Shop are interactives explaining the processes of steel production including giant 3D jigsaws of the Sheffield Simplex car and a locomotive that budding engineers can explore both inside and out.

Families will be able to visit the rest of the Museum free of charge and take part in the many activities that will be also happening throughout August. Activities include performances from Point Blank Theatre Group, story telling and activity trails led by characters from Sheffield’s industrial past.

Sylvia Dunkley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport & Tourism at Sheffield City Council said:

“Having seen first hand how much the children love the Melting Shop, it reflects what a good job the Museum does interpreting Sheffield’s industrial past for all ages. It’s wonderful that families can share this kind of fun activity together over the summer holidays and because it is free, it means everyone can enjoy what the museum has to offer”

John Hamshere, Chief Executive at Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust said:

“The final stage of flood recovery is now complete however we are now moving on to further developments and looking forward to welcoming the Hawley Collection into our new building in early 2010.

The impact of offering free entry at Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust is already proving itself with a 40% overall increase in attendance at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet within our first two months of opening. We are confident that our new re-display and re-opening of The Melting Shop will ensure this rise in footfall continues at Kelham Island Museum throughout the school holidays”

Kelham Island Museum remains open for free throughout Sheffield School Holiday periods, opening daily from 10 am until 4 pm Monday to Thursday and 11 am until 4.45 pm on Sunday.

Hundreds of families visited a sunny Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet site last weekend for a free Family Sunday event celebrating its traditional crafts and skills heritage. Visitors heard tales about the fascinating story of the former Sheffield industrial site and explored living and working in an 18th century steel works.

The historical significance of Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, which dates back to the early 1800's when the area was an industrious scythe and steel works, was recreated with traditional skills and crafts performed as part of the annual Family Sunday series of events that takes place across the summer season at Abbeydale.

Niki Connolly, Events and Marketing Officer at Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust said,

"It was an action packed day and hundreds of families joined in the entertainment and activities, which included demonstrations from local craftspeople and the historical characters that Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust is famous for.

"It's fantastic that we can open the doors at Abbeydale for free so that families can see local traditions and former industry being brought back to life. We have a number of events taking place across the summer and are looking forward to equally well attended events. We would particularly welcome families who have never visited the site before to come and see us over the summer"

Highlights of the Family Sunday event were local craftspeople showcasing traditional skills including a blacksmith, grinder, potter, lacemakers, weavers, spinners and dyers, a cane seat maker and green woodcrafts. Hands-on children made traditional rag rugs and willow fish whilst the braver helped our blacksmith make a snail over the anvil. Others had fun learning the tricks of the trade as a chimney sweep, from the 1800s prowled the Hamlet site hunting out a willing assistant!

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet remains open for free throughout the entire summer period, opening daily from 10 am until 4 pm Monday to Thursday and 11 am until 4.45 pm on Sunday.