30 historical photos from the archives capturing Sheffield a century ago in 1926

In this photo gallery, we go back in time to look at Sheffield a century ago. A year of social upheaval and economic plight, rising unemployment and the birth of a future monarch

The year 1926 was an eventful one for the city of Sheffield.

It was also the year that Elizabeth II was born (April 21, 1926). The late monarch would become Queen on 6 February 1952 until 8 September 2022, when she passed away.

1926 was also the year of the National General Strike, Britain’s first and only one. The strike stemmed from a long-running dispute over mine owners reducing miners' pay and increasing hours to boost profits. High 1920s unemployment (over 10% in Sheffield alone) and ongoing industrial relation problems which had resulted in strikes in the pre-World War One years (1911-1914) which had not been resolved.

The Sheffield Gang Wars of 1925 had abated somewhat, with the Park Brigade becoming the dominant of the city gangs at that time.

Furthermore, 1926 marked a historic milestone when Sheffield became the nation’s first major city council to fall under Labour Party control. A political shift that launched a century of strongly socialist local governance and pioneering social housing developments.

Take a look through the this nostalgic gallery to see the city 100-years-ago.