£21m Development Will Honour History Of Sheffield’s Oldest Buildings

£21m Development Will Honour History Of Sheffield’s Oldest Buildings

The Eyewitness Works and Ceylon Works have been iconic buildings in Sheffield since they were originally constructed in 1852. Now, as the notable structures are preparing to be transformed into new apartments, the developer has promised to honour their long and significant history.

Owners Capital & Centric has committed itself to celebrating the legacy of the former cutlery works’ site with the £21 million re-development project.

While the industrial buildings will be changed into 97 new apartments and townhouses, they will remain as recognisable as they have done for 150 years.

Capital&Centric has promised to keep the original features of the Grade II listed constructions, so residents can enjoy living in some of Sheffield’s most important historic buildings, reported The Star.

Speaking with the news provider, co-founder of Capital&Centric Adam Higgins said: “As the custodians of Eyewitness Works, it’s always been important to us that we celebrate its awesome history.”

He went on to say: “The building is one of the last examples of the cutlery industry that made Sheffield famous across the world. We’ve loved discovering all the souvenirs of the past, like the Victorian safes, fireplaces and pressing machines.”

The Milton Street buildings were once famous for producing pocket and kitchen knives during the 19th Century. Here, cutlery was made from scratch – in the workshops, metal was grinded, hardened, buffed, filed and polished until they were ready for market.

As the developer is keen to make the most of the authentic charm of the buildings, it is planning to retain many of their historic features. These include a 40ft chimney, Victorian safes, exposed brickwork, pressing machines that are 150 years old, and even the original timber roof structure. They are also combining these period features with modern designs, offering the best of both worlds to homebuyers looking for a stylish property in the heart of Sheffield.

Mr Higgins added: “You can live in a space that was once used to grind, file and polish cutlery. We’re keeping as many of the original features as we can, including the brickwork, timber roof and cobbles.”

According to Capital&Centric’s Tom Wilmott, the buildings have been empty for a year already, which means they are beginning to deteriorate and were at risk of being damaged by break-ins and graffiti.

Therefore, this emphasised “the need to find an appropriate use for the building for its long-term enhancement and preservation”.

As well as giving the factories a new lease of life, courtyards will be re-opened and Capital&Centric will create a historic-looking cobbled street with festoon lighting on the site. It will also construct a six-storey building where the Brunswick Hotel used to be, making the most of the former accommodation of many cutlery workers over the years.

This is not the only project the developer has set its eyes upon in the Yorkshire city, and it could require plenty of help from scaffolders in Sheffield over the next few years if its plans go ahead.

Indeed, it intends to spend £200 million over the next five to ten years to create more than 2,500 residential units, as well as restaurants, cafes and bars to rejuvenate the city’s street life.

This will help accommodate Sheffield’s growing population, with the number of people living in the city centre having multiplied from 3,000 to 27,000 over just two decades.

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