Sheffield museum awarded National Lottery grant

The money is to be spent creating a ‘power house’ at Kelham Island Museum, where a new boiler will be fitted to the world-renowned River Don Engine - one of the most powerful working steam engines in the world.

A visitor viewing gallery will allow people to see the engine in full steam.

The engine was built by Sheffield firm Davy Brothers in 1905 to drive Charles Cammell’s armour plate rolling mill located in Grimesthorpe.

Cammell’s was one of the city companies that supplied the ship building industry with tough armour plate steel for the Dreadnought warships that fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 during the First World War.

The Sheffield 1916 Steel, Steam and Power project will explain Sheffield’s role in shipbuilding, the story of steam power and explore everyday life during the First World War when the city was bombed.

As part of the project a 1916 house will be created to help visitors take a step back in time to experience what life was like in Sheffield during the raid.

Alex Pettifer, Chairman of Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the £428,100 of Heritage Lottery Funding.

“The River Don Engine is arguably the star attraction at Kelham Island Museum and it is important that this magnificent piece of history is kept running, along with the industrial heritage of the city and how it helped place Sheffield on the world map.”

Anyone with stories or memories about the River Don Engine should contact Maria Flude on 0114 221 0827 or email [email protected]