Globe Works facts for kids
The Globe Works is a very old factory in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It's found on Penistone Road in an area called Neepsend. This building is super important because it's a Grade II* Listed Building, which means it's a protected historical site. In the late 1980s, it was fixed up and now holds modern offices. It's part of the Kelham Island Conservation Area, which is known for its history.
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A Look Back at Globe Works
The Globe Works was built way back in 1825. Architects Henry and William Ibbotson designed it for a company called Ibbotson & Roebank, who made tools. This factory is one of England's oldest surviving places where tools and cutlery were made. It might even be the world's first factory built just for making cutlery! When it first opened, the factory made steel, tools, and cutlery all in one place. Everything was powered by steam.
Building Design and Early Workers
The front of the Globe Works is very fancy. It's made of stone and brick in an old, grand style called Classical Revival. The front has two floors with nine windows on each floor. The middle part has a triangular top, which adds a bit more height.
Behind this grand front were furnaces and a manager's house. There was also a courtyard surrounded by many small workshops. In these workshops, lots of "little mesters" worked. These were skilled workers who owned their own small businesses. The factory owner even had his house built right into the southern end of the Works. This is probably why the front looks so grand! The main entrance today used to be the side entrance to the owner's house.
The entrance to the workshops around the courtyard was through a huge archway. This archway was originally built so horses and carts could get into the cobbled courtyard. The upstairs rooms, used for packing and offices, were reached by an outside staircase.
Famous People and Products
Some important people worked at Globe Works. A famous industrialist named Charles Cammell worked here from 1830 to 1837. He later started his own big company, which became part of the Cammell Laird group. Another well-known industrialist, William Edgar Allen, also worked here when he was young. He later started his own steelworks, Edgar Allen and Company, in 1867.
The Globe Works faced some tough times. In 1843, it was badly damaged during problems between factory owners and workers.
In 1852, John Walters moved his business to the Globe Works. His factory made table knives, folding knives, steel, and tools. They were especially good at making Bowie knives for the American market. Later, from 1865 to 1910, a company called Unwin & Rodgers used the Works. After that, it became a general factory and warehouse.
Besides cutlery, the factory also made silver items. Thomas Bishop started making "Old Sheffield Plate" (copper coated with silver) here in 1830. Later, they used a different method with nickel silver. The business was passed down to his son, George Bishop. After World War II, the company became Sanders and Bowers, Globe Works. They made silverware and special "Friar Edge" knives. The company continued until 1976.
Saving and Reusing the Building
In 1970, there was a plan to knock down the Globe Works to build a new road. But thankfully, the request was stopped! The building became empty and rundown in the 1970s. It was even badly damaged by a fire in 1978.
In 1987, a big restoration project began. It cost £1.5 million to fix up the building. An arts charity called the Leadmill Association led the work, with help from architects and contractors. Money came from the Sheffield City Council, the European Regional Development Fund, the English Tourist Board, English Heritage, and the Arts Council. This first renovation included a cutlery shop, a visitor center, and a pub.
However, the Leadmill Association ran into money problems in 1994. Then, Velocity Estates bought the Works in the mid-1990s. They did a complete refurbishment that lasted 18 months and cost millions of pounds. They tried to save as much of the original building as possible after the fire.
Today, the building is known as the Globe Business Centre. It has about 30,000 square feet of space and is home to around 22 different companies. Davison Property Management takes care of the offices, which are suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
