Come and have a look around the wonderful Portland Works- the birthplace of stainless steel cutlery production in Sheffield.

Portland Works is an operational business every day of the week. But wherever possible, we like to find opportunities to bring the public inside. We love helping people learn about the history of the building and see the progress that we’re making to preserve it.

On the first Tuesday of each month at 2pm (April to September), you can visit by arrangement and take a guided tour with one of our knowledgeable volunteer tour guides. Tours are free although a donation is welcome as a gesture of support and we suggest £5 per person.

Booking is essential. Please book via Eventbrite preferably or you can call the office on 0114 275 9354.

What You’ll See When You Visit

We will show you around the yard so you can see where the various processes of cutlery-making took place. If the tenants are around you may be able to see into the forge (still with its original machine hammers), the vaulted grinding shop or the “lantern room”. The Works is steeped in history and was the place where the very first stainless steel knives were made, and the same forge is still in use today little changed. More recently the works has become home to a number of modern small craft industries and multiple artists and musicians (Def Leppard used to practice here!)

You’ll see newly restored areas that our volunteers are working on. And then there’s the impressive rooftop view. We have a visitor room to end your tour where you can warm up, see our cutlery collection and learn more about the Works and its unbroken history of manufacturing. Beforehand the nearby Bolthole Cafe at Harland Works is a great place for a drink or meal.

We’ve turned the corner from “serious dilapidation” to a decent working environment, although there’s still an awful lot to do. We’re proud to be preserving the essence of a 19th century factory.

Please note: This is a tour of the outside of the buildings and we cannot guarantee which of our 30+ tenants will be on-site or who has time let us in to show us what they are working on. But there is always plenty to see. It’s also the day the Building and Maintenance volunteers are renovating the works so you can see what we are currently working on.

Access Information

We apologise that there is currently very poor access. This is a partly restored and listed Victorian factory building. We do make every effort to ensure as much access as possible, within the constraints of the building but please contact us ahead of the day (on 0114 275 9354) so we can think through the arrangements together if necessary.

Additionally, a lot of the Works is pretty cold so please wear warm clothes. Sensible shoes are advised too as the floors are uneven and there are many steep staircases and trip hazards. If conditions allow there is the option of taking in the views from the flat roof. Please note that as well as the trip hazards, vehicles are being driven in and around the yard and often tenants or volunteers are working outside. Be warned, too, that our current toilet facilities can best be described as “basic” !

Tours start at 2pm. Please allow up to 2 hours. There is metered parking on Hill Street and surrounding side roads and we are a short walk from Bramall Lane and London Road bus stops.

Children are welcome but must be closely supervised at all times- there are lots of open staircases, uneven stairs and trip hazards. It's not a good environment for toddlers.

If you are a society or group and would like to arrange an exclusive tour, or a talk for your members please give us a call on 0114 275 9354.

Description supplied by the event organiser.