Kelham Island Walks

12/10/2024

Three tours of Kelham Island and Neepsend yesterday. The most I've done in a day (70 people in total) and two were the first school groups I've done.

Thank you to and for booking me for their tours.

I forgot to take any photos so instead it'll have to be a picture of the amazing Bessemer Converter and a section from an information board at Kelham Island Museum.

05/10/2024

This morning I did a private tour of Neepsend for with a family travelling to Sheffield from Sleaford in Lincolnshire specially for the walk.

This photo shows some of the details from the old Neepsend Police Station on Burton Road. Built in 1892 for the Sheffield City Police (hence the city coat of arms on the pediment) the precursor to South Yorkshire Police. The police station was involved in tackling some of the gangs around in Sheffield in the early twentieth century.

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