Kelham Island Industrial Museum Museums

Kelham Island Museum was opened in 1982 to house the objects, pictures and archive material representing Sheffield's industrial story. The displays at the Museum tell that story from the "Little Mester" to mass production, skilled workers, revolutionary processes, quality products, invention and innovation.

The introductory displays as you enter the museum show examples of the wide range of products made in Sheffield - a saw, a woodworking plane, buttons, Henderson's Relish, a spanner, a toast rack, and Stones Best Bitter.

We've arranged the museum's exhibition galleries by themes important to Sheffield's industrial history.

The 12,000 horse power River Don Engine was built by Davy Brothers of Sheffield in 1905. It was made to drive Charles Cammell's armour plate rolling mill located at his Grimesthorpe Works. The engine was one of four all built for the same purpose. The second went to John Brown's Atlas Works, the third to the Japanese government, and the destination of the fourth is unknown.

The Bramah Press at Kelham Island Museum was first in use in the Tower of London from 1806 to 1874. It was probably used there for keeping paper flat. The press then went to Woolwich Arsenal from 1874 to 1894. It was used there for pressing maps. .