Route as a Tool for Holistic Understanding of Industrial Heritage Areas: Kelham Island and the Furnace Trail

Abstract

Kelham Island is a historic industrial area in Sheffield, England, representing the innovative initiatives of its time that transformed the city into a globally significant hub for iron and steel production. While industry shaped the city's identity, from its architecture to daily life, Kelham Island hosted technological discoveries that played a key role in industrial history, such as the mass production of steel and the invention of stainless steel. However, from the mid-20th century, as the steel industry entered a period of decline, the area was gradually abandoned. Conservation efforts initiated by the Sheffield Council in the 1980s designated Kelham Island as an "industrial conservation area." More recently, preservation work has revitalised the area, turning it into a key attraction. This study will explore industrial heritage routes that highlight the values of such areas and foster their holistic understanding, focusing on Kelham Island and the defined Furnace Trail within it.