Sheffield Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Sheffield

Sheffield takes its name from the river Sheaf, which runs through the city. Field, of course, is an open space. The city sits at the confluence of the rivers Don and Sheaf. Don is the master stream. Its tributaries are the Loxely, Porter Brook, Rivelin, and Sheaf. There were settlements in this area as far back as 12,000 years ago.

After the Romans, settlements were Anglo-Saxon and Danish. With the arrival of the Normans, Baron William de Lovetot built Sheffield Castle to guard the Saxons. By the 14th century, Sheffield had grown into an important market town. In the 17th century, the town was known for its production of cutlery and steel.

Steel was Sheffield's ticket to greatness. The crucible steel process was developed in Sheffield in the 1740s. The Industrial Revolution brought large-scale steel-making to Sheffield. The arrival of rail travel in the 19th century further boosted the town's population.

Sheffield continues to be a market town. The main shopping areas are the Moor, Fargate, Orchard Square, and the unique Devonshire Quarter. Former factories and foundries are now galleries, theaters, and museums. City Hall harbors a comedy club.

The Millennium Gallery showcases art collections and the world's best metalwork. The enormous Winter Garden greenhouse is an oasis of thousands of plants and trees from around the world. The 12th-century Sheffield Cathedral, with its stunning lantern tower and stained glass, offers a haven of serenity.

The theatre complex in the heart of the city is made up of the Crucible, Lyceum, and Crucible Studio. The Neo-classical Sheffield City Hall in Barker's Pool is a venue for operas, ballet, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Lou Reed. Other theaters are the Montgomery, Merlin, and Lantern.

Sheffield is welcoming and friendly, packed with places of art, culture, dining, and lots of green spaces. Festivals, theaters, pubs, nightclubs, and sports give the city a lively spirit and call for adventure. Answer the call.