A Multimedia Exploration of the Story of Vulcan, Blending Film, Poetry, Sound, Music, Art and Science

Craft & Industry

The Cradle of Fire team is interested in engaging with steelmaking, blacksmithing, metalsmithing, knife and scissor making, and other crafts linked to the cities and locations in which we are working, notably Sheffield and Tees Valley initially. Key partners currently include Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet where several craftspeople have workshops that are open for demonstrations and educational purposes.

We are also engaging with communities from extractive industries, such as iron ore sites and works, from a heritage point of view. Please visit our Get Involved page for further information.

We welcome contact in other geographical areas, with crafts, industries and organisations that might connect to our core activities, as they evolve.

Cradle of Fire Craft & Industry Will Hill_wm Peter Gribbon grinder Abbeydale Cradle of Fire 2024-07-16 2 Stainless_Sheffield_knives_marks © creative commons furnace-cradle-of-fire 2024 Shoemakers scissors_-© creative commons Iain Jones blacksmith at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet Cradle of Fire film Screenshot 2024-07-16 Conjunction II, 2019 Mark Firth copy cutlery sculpture close up knife copy

Craft & Industry

Mythical and Magical Metalwork and Volcanic Gemstones

Our mythical hero, Vulcan, found fire at the heart of Mount Etna, deep inside the volcano, and there he set up a furnace, making use of the embers to spark...

27 November 2024

Craft & Industry

A Selection of Monologues by Sheila Thomas

This engaging project draws on Sheila Thomas and her family’s memories of life in Sheffield, when steelmaking was a thriving industry in the city. Her narratives are illustrated by photographs...

5 November 2024

Craft & Industry

Sheffield’s Rich Traditions: A Compelling Contemporary Metalwork Exhibition

On my recent visit to Sheffield for Cradle of Fire meeting with art mentor Mike Stubbs and a potential new collaborator Jake Harries, I  visited a new exhibition ‘Show your...

24 July 2024

Craft & Industry

Nuts and Bolts of Industry

Rusty detritus of the past found in Sheffield museums gives us hidden glimpses of bygone days with questions of how and when they were used or made. As part of the...

20 June 2024

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We’d love to hear from you as we develop the Cradle of Fire project. Please use the contact page to get in touch.

About Cradle of Fire

Cradle of Fire is a research and development project, supported by public funds from Arts Council England. We are also grateful for support from our partners and creative collaborators. Read more on the dedicated About pages.

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