Kelham Island Walks

17/09/2024

Discover the stories behind the art and the artists of Kelham Island and Neepsend on this Saturday's art and studios tour. It's led by a local artist who created some of the art you will visit. Tickets are £10. Follow the link in the bio for details on how to book.

06/09/2024

Really pleased we're now on the Our Favourite Places website. It's a brilliant independently run website full of interesting cultural events around Sheffield. Definitely worth a browse.

Explore the past and present of characterful Kelham Island and Neepsend, with walks on three themes. Discover stories of industrial Sheffield, working class community, and inspiring art.

29/08/2024

It was beautiful weather yesterday for a private walking tour of Kelham Island with this group visting Sheffield from Munich. Along with the regular tour we went on a slight detour into Neepsend so they discover more about Sheffield's music history and the process of how crucible steel was made at the old furnace on Neepsend Lane. They also spent the morning at Kelham Island Museum and had drinks at The Fat Cat Sheffield.

21/08/2024

Kelham Island Walks will be part of Heritage Open Days again this year, with tours of Yellow Arch Studios and a walking tour of Kelham Island. Places are free but limited, and last year both events booked out quickly. Tickets available from 5pm on Thurs 21st August 2024.

Yellow Arch Studios is one of the UK's top live music and recording venues, but as Clarence Works it dates back to the 1870s starting life as part of Sheffield's industry. More details and booking at: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/yellow-arch-studios.html

The Kelham Island walking tour brings to life one of Sheffield’s first industrial districts. You’ll discover its buildings, stories about its history, the successes and the tragedies of the people who made it what it is, and an insight into the place today. More details and booking at: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/kelham-island-walking-tour.html

Sheffield Heritage Open Days

08/08/2024

Gwenda's Garage was a pioneering all-female car repair garage based on Hoyland Road in Neepsend. Nice to see this little known part of Sheffield's history celebrated by Historic England

04/08/2024

Sunday 18 August @ 10.30am, £10
Kelham Island Walking Tour

Discover how Kelham Island developed into one of Sheffield's first industrial districts before its transformation into today's great neighbourhood

Book at http://kelhamislandwalks.com

01/08/2024

It's Yorkshire Day and I love this post from Wessex Archaeology with some fascinating finds from the industrial archaeology of Sheffield

21/07/2024

This afternoon I enjoyed a different tour of Sheffield run by Kevin of .

Starting off at Castlegate we wound our way up to the Peace Gardens via West Bar and the Cathedral. As well as a general history of Sheffield it makes good use of Kevin's background as a retired police officer and includes lots about the city's history of crime and policing, the gang wars and Charles Peace.

Very interesting and definitely recommended.

21/07/2024

This week I took a group of staff from the University of Sheffield on a tour of Kelham Island as part of their team away day. We had brilliant weather for it. As well as the history of Kelham Island and the background to the area's most impressive buildings, I was also able to share a connection between Neepsend and the university itself.

I often do private tours of Kelham Island for universities, companies, families and friends, community groups, history societies and many more. Do get in touch!

12/07/2024

Manifesting more sunny city scenes with this great shot above Kelham Island looking towards Sheffield City Centre, by Steel City Drone Pilot ☀️🏙️👌

Also featuring ’s iconic Jarvis Cocker street art on the side of The Fat Cat- bit late acknowledging it, but earlier this week it was also the 1 year anniversary of Pulp’s legendary homecoming shows at Utilita Arena Sheffield last year!🪩🕺🏻

02/07/2024

Discover the story of life in a Sheffield industrial community with a walking tour of Neepsend.

This Sunday (7th July), from 10.30am
Meet outside the Gardener's Rest, Neepsend Lane, S3 8AT
Tickets = £10. Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neepsend-walking-tour-tickets-905295281557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Kelham Island Walks is is rated Excellent on TripAdvisor, with 1,000 people having been on a walking tour so far.

23/06/2024

The canoeists were out on the river during today's Kelham Island walking tour. It's always nice when visitors get to see things on the tour that are unexpected and unplanned

17/06/2024

Has summer finally arrived in Kelham Island?

The forecast for Sunday when I do my next Kelham Island history tour is also looking good

18/05/2024

I'm doing a rare Saturday night private walking tour of Kelham Island tonight and the weather is beautiful

29/04/2024

5 year anniversary! Yesterday Facebook reminded me that it was five years since I did my first walking tour of Kelham Island.

For many years I'd wanted to run walking tours, but I never expected it to happen (too busy, not knowing how to put a walk together, imposter syndrome etc). Since then I've done 90 tours for 1,160 people including public walks and private bookings, plus I've also done some talks. I've worked with both Sheffield universities, the mayoral combined authority, Heritage Open Days, Sheffield museums and libraries, local history groups, company away days, trade organisations, WIs and family groups. I get an excellent rating on Tripadvisor, and I appeared on BBC Look North. And I still love every single walk that I do.

Thank you to everyone whose been on a walk, told their friends, promoted what I do, given me advice and just generally been really supportive over those five years.

21/04/2024

This isn't your usual view of Ball Street Bridge. It's taken from the northern tip of Kelham Island. That's the island itself rather than the district that's now adopted the name. A nice day for a walking tour. Not too warm, not too cold

03/04/2024

Whether it's the history of Kelham Island, Neepsend or discovering the local art scene, there's a walking tour coming up that will suit you. Here's the next few dates. All need to be booked in advance (https://www.kelhamislandwalks.com/book-a-walk) and cost £10 per person:

Sun 21 April: Kelham Island walking tour. Meet outside Kelham Island Museum at 2pm.

Sat 27 April: Art & Studios tour led by a local artist. Meet outside Kelham Island Museum at 2pm

Sun 20 May: Neepsend walking tour. Meet outside the Gardener's Rest at 10.30am.

Sun 23 June. Kelham Island walking tour. Meet outside Kelham Island Museum at 10.30am.

24/03/2024

A lovely way to prepare for today's walking tour of Neepsend. Enjoying the sun and a coffee at at

18/03/2024

Ball Street Bridge looking lovely in today's sun

15/03/2024

Discover Neepsend on a walking tour about its past, present and future. The next tour is Sun 24 March at 2pm (tickets £10, booking link in bio).

Although close to Kelham Island, it's more industrial, has quite a different history and architecture. Some might say it's just that bit edgier and less sanitised. Discover stories from its past on a two-hour tour led by a local resident.

13/03/2024

Today saw me doing a private walking tour for Kath and four friends who were on a two-day visit to Sheffield from Hull. As well as joining a walking tour of Kelham Island, they also visited Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield Museums Millennium Gallery and Kelham Island Museum, and called in for food and drinks at the Fat Cat and Joni. Sounds like a lovely trip and it's great to have been booked as part of their visit.

11/03/2024

Today marks the 160th anniversary of the Great Sheffield Flood. This tragic event of 11-12 March 1864 claimed at least 240 lives and devastated parts of the city, including Kelham Island and Neepsend.

As usual flowers have been laid on the memorial by the river off Millsands. The memorial includes the names of two of the youngest victims Robert Ryder and Alfred Coggins, both of whom I mention on my walking tours. Also poignant is the sad listing of 'Servants (unnamed)'. An important moment in Sheffield history, and one the people of the city today still remember.

02/02/2024

I mention Stephenson Blake on my Neepsend walk (the successor company is based there) so it would be great if we can get Stephenson Blake's collection back in Sheffield

We Need Your Help....

Stephenson Blake & Co. Collection, Kelham Island Museum

Did you know that until the 1990s, Sheffield was home to the country’s largest producer of metal type for printing?
Established in 1818 when a silversmith and mechanic joined forces with ‘the best filer in Sheffield’, the Stephenson Blake & Co. type foundry quickly developed a reputation for designing, manufacturing and selling high quality metal type. The foundry was on Upper Allen Street.
Despite Stephenson Blake & Co’s success and its significant impact on the world of typography and printing in the UK and beyond, this industrial story of skill and entrepreneurialism is not well known in Sheffield.

In 1996, Stephenson Blake’s collection was bought with the help of the National Lottery Heritage Memorial Fund and taken to London. It comprises 2.5 million handmade artefacts relating to typefounding from the 16th-20th century. There is now an opportunity for the collection to return to Sheffield and be housed and cared for at Kelham Island Museum.

We’d love to hear from Kelham Island residents and what they think about the project. Please share your thoughts by completing the short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CX3RRSL

18/01/2024

This weekend is the annual Sheffield Heritage Fair held at Millennium Gallery. It's a good opportunity to see what heritage groups are doing across the city, including many offering guided walks.

On Sunday why not make a day of it by also joining the new Neepsend Walking Tour beforehand. 10.30am from outside the Gardener's Rest pub. Tickets are £10

18/01/2024

This weekend is the annual Sheffield Heritage Fair held at the Millennium Gallery. It's a good opportunity to see what heritage groups are doing across the city, including many offering guided walks.

On Sunday why not make a day of it by also joining the new Neepsend Walking Tour beforehand. 10.30am from outside the Gardener's Rest pub. Tickets are £10.