Sheffield: A Short Guide
The city was built on the steel industry, of which little survives, but great strides have been made towards keeping Sheffield vibrant and interesting
Sheffield’s wealth was built on two things, namely cutlery and Sheffield plate (a thin film of silver fixed to base metal), but its contemporary claims to fame are focussed on two very different attractions, these being the Meadowhall Shopping Centre and the World Snooker Championships held at the Crucible Theatre. However, Sheffield has more to offer than just its industrial background and modern commercial and sporting features.
Getting around Sheffield has become much easier in recent years thanks to the Supertram that runs through the city centre and extends to Meadowhall in the east and the northern and southern suburbs. Visitors will also benefit from the many pedestrianized streets in the city centre and the fact that many of the places of interest are in fairly close proximity.
The Town Hall was opened in 1897 and extended in 1923. The impressive clock tower is surmounted by a figure of Vulcan, the Roman god of metalworking, and the sculptured frieze above the main entrance features the industries that Sheffield is famous for, but are sadly little in evidence today.