There is no other location in the world that is more closely associated with steel than Sheffield in England. This perception of Sheffield as a grim industrial city is still prevalent today despite evidence to the contrary. Sheffield is often cited as the greenest city in England, indeed it has more trees per person than any other city in the whole of Europe. The city of Sheffield is seeking to redefine itself in contrast to its common reputation as an industrial stronghold, with an urban redevelopment project having been undertaken in recent years. No one would argue however that Sheffield should do away entirely with its industrial past, and the archaeology of Sheffield can happily coexist with its newer and greener developments.

The city of Sheffield is often compared with its two neighbors, which are sometimes referred to as rivals. Leeds to the north and Manchester to the west have often been compared to Sheffield in one way or another. This is one reason why the city has taken on such major redevelopment projects, but it does have to be careful not to forget about its industrial past. There is a lot of archaeology that is being uncovered in or near Sheffield that can perhaps help to redefine the city in terms that are unique to Sheffield and its place in the north of England.

A lot of the archaeological discoveries in Sheffield are found in former factories, old semi-derelict sites and poor housing projects – not the types of locations that are likely to attract much fanfare. Such locations are known as ‘brownfields’ and are at the forefront of Sheffield’s archaeological existence. These sites are great examples of how Sheffield was transformed in the past from a medieval market town to the industrial steel making centre that it is known as today. While the early stages of Sheffield’s industrial life may not have seen the same high-grade steel (Edelstahlrohre) parts being produced as they are today; Sheffield was a unique industrial site for its time. There are a couple of reasons why Sheffield became such a prominent industrial location.

The first reason is due to the diversity of different metal trades that were taking place in the city. Cutlery, tool making, silverwear and steel engineering were all separate but related skills that lead to a broad skill base. Another influential factor was due to these separate fields all being fairly close to each other, allowing different trades to feed off each other and create something bigger than themselves. These smaller trade businesses had to compete with bigger organisations in time, but the heart of Sheffield’s steel industry has always lay with these smaller and family run workers. As bigger factories rose to prominence however, Butt Weld Fittings (Schweissfittings) and other specialised components were able to be produced.

Sheffield steel is known world wide, and will always be a part of the history and culture of the city of Sheffield. As the local city government redevelops and redefines the city, questions must be asked about the relevance of this history to the Sheffield of today. Archaeological discoveries in the city are very important as they allow people to understand what life was like in the past, and what conditions people had to endure to make the city of Sheffield what it is today.