Sheffield’s Best for History Buffs

The pleasing city of Sheffield is a gem of South Yorkshire. The exemplary artistic endeavors of this city and the impressive array of restaurants, clubs and cafes found here have propelled it to exceeding fame as a must-visit cultural hub. However, if you are a history buff visiting the city, you are in for a pleasant surprise. An assortment of museums, centered on varied subjects and themes, grace the scenic land of Sheffield. With this handy guide, you can set yourself on an immersive history trail, tracing every fascinating offering of this city. Read on

1. Kelham Island Museum

Standing tall on Alma Street, in the heart of the city’s oldest industrial districts, is the Kelham Island Museum. Having opened its doors to the public in 1982, this historic museum chronicles the comprehensive episodes of Sheffield’s history through the Industrial Revolution. Home to several interactive galleries, the museum takes visitors on a stirring ride along milestones such as establishment of the city’s steel-making industries and the construction of Sheffield Simplex, an iconic automobile engineered to compete with Rolls Royce. It is here that you will get acquainted with the legendary status of a “Made in Sheffield” mark.

2. Weston Park Museum

Reckoned as the largest museum of the city, Weston Park offers a glimpse into the political, historic and cultural history of Sheffield. This award-winning museum is known to house an impressive permanent collection and a rotating schedule of temporary exhibitions. Right from the geological roots of the city’s first inhabitants to the ever-evolving political landscape and the musical prowess of the city, one can find evocative exhibits covering all these aspects here.

Pro tip: Sandwiched between the two aforementioned museums is an old school, family-run pub, the New Barrack Tavern. Make a pit stop in this sprawling beer garden and pub before you make a headway towards the realms of history.

3. The Alfred Denny Museum

This hidden gem is a delightful haven for anatomy enthusiasts. Established in 1905, this massive museum is nestled in the campus of the University of Sheffield. Christened after Alfred Denny, the university’s first biology professor, the fascinating museum is home to an eclectic collection of exhibits, which can best be described as absurd. These include the likes of fossilized dinosaurs, a rare Japanese giant salamander, a dolphin sliced down the center to expose its skeleton, and the startling model of the skull of the Terror Bird, an extinct carnivorous bird that could grow to gigantic proportions.

A couple of handwritten letters exchanged between Charles Darwin and Henry Denny, the father of Alfred Denny, also feature in the museum.

Pro Tip: If you feel a loss of appetite after the eerie experience of scanning skeletons, consider the long yet rewarding drive to the Old Vicarage. This award-winning fine dining restaurant skirts the city of Sheffield. Ending your day with a sublime meal here, along with a scenic drive along the landscapes of South Yorkshire is a fitting au revoir to Sheffield.

Author Name
Divya Kabadi