You don't need to know how long I've 'had my eye on this one' for, but I'm still going to tell you. I lived round the corner from here for YEARS; only spitting distance, in fact, to the associated La Plata Working Men's club. I'd often considered asking to have a look round while it was operational, but shyness always got the better of me. I have sinced moved a bit further away and hadn't realised that the company had partially relocated, so was eager to have a look around when I found out. It soon became evident that part of the site IS still operational, and there are cameras and PIRS that DO elicit a response so it has taken a little sussing out. Ultimately an empty building is a lot less impressive than a fully operatonal toolmakers, but I'm still glad to have finally seen inside one of Sheffield's oldest tool manufacturers, and it's another little bit of Sheffield of the ilk that first drew me to this hobby.
Burgon and Ball have been operational in Sheffield since 1730, originally making agricultural shears, and have been located at the La Plata Works since 1873. The site was previously home to 'six dwelling houses with gardens and outbuildings' which were destroyed during the Great Sheffield Flood in 1864.
(sources: Our Heritage Timeline | Burgon & Ball, https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Flood study guide v1-6.pdf)
Here's a picture of the works. The bulding in the bottom left still exists and makes up part of this report.
The building was extended in 1974.
A nice photos of some city gents just chilling in their whips outside.
Tools...
Here's what you could have won...
I'll begin with some black and white film (have you seen the price of colour film recently?!) and then follow with a more conventional tour via iphone.
External
(Don't hate me for taking it into a second part...)
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