Sheffield History

The museums are home to thousands of objects and artworks reflecting the lives of people living and working in the city. The earliest items have been excavated from the ground, while the most recent have been made and collected within the last year. They help tell the story of the development of Sheffield, as well as the impact of national or international events on the people who live here. The collections also contribute to our understanding of how society has changed over the years and enable us to find common connections with people who call the city home.

The archaeological material includes large archives from excavations across the city providing valuable information about the development of Sheffield. These archives tell us about key sites such as Sheffield Castle and Sheffield Manor, as well as shedding light on 19th and 20th century industrial metalworking in the city and its domestic housing.

Sheffield’s social history, the stories of the city and its people, are also represented through a wide range of items dating from around 1500 to the present day. These span household objects, clothing and toys through to treasured keepsakes that have marked special personal and family events.

Collection highlights documenting the city’s social history include textiles and clothing from Painted Fabrics Ltd, established in the city during the First World War to provide meaningful work for injured servicemen, and the George Loy Smith Crimean War collection. The destruction and loss of life in the 1864 Sheffield Flood is remembered through found objects and photographs. There is also a large collection of watercolours, prints and paintings depicting Sheffield through the years. Recently the collections have been developing around the themes of protest and activism, LGBTQ+ lives and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The collection grows each year to better reflect life in city – this is thanks to the generosity of people and communities across Sheffield, who continue entrust their objects, stories and memories to the museums.

If you want to search for a specific item, phrase or object number, enter your search term in speech marks e.g. "Benty Grange".

Click here to search our full online collection.