Illustrations of Nineteenth Century Sheffield: From Pawson and Brailsford's 'Illustrated Guide to Sheffield'

In 1862, the recently formed partnership of Pawson and Brailsford produced the first of their illustrated guides to Sheffield and the surrounding area. Three more such guides followed in 1879, 1889 and 1899, and this book brings together illustrations from the four editions as a summary of the changes taking place in the expanding town during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Sheffield grew in the 19th century from a being a small town tucked into the edge of the Pennine hills to become a major centre of industry. The medieval streets and lanes, based around the parish church, were replaced by a modern bustling commercial centre, with buildings reflecting the prosperity and civic pride of its citizens. Industry had started in individual workshops attached to the homes of the workmen, and in isolated water powered mills and grinding wheels scattered along the streams flowing from the surrounding hills. That industry became concentrated in works which brought together and integrated the separate skills. Some works spread to line the once rural Don valley taking advantage of the canal and railways which overcame the town's isolation. Others remained in the centre of the expanding town, sharing the streets with housing, shops and the new civic buildings. Guided by the available illustrations, this book attempts to provide some of the context in which many of these changes occurred. Some serve to illustrate more remote history and the origins of the town, many show the developments taking place through the 19th century, while others carry the history into the 20th century, and even to the present day.