Exploring Sheffield’s History: Year 5’s Journey into the Past

In January, Year 5 and their teachers had the incredible opportunity to join Carly, Ruth, and Kerry from the Sheffield Archive Team to dive deep into the rich history of our city. Together, we explored maps, historical sources, and fascinating materials that have helped us uncover the story of Ella Hudson-Gasking and the lives of the many people who worked at the Batchelor Factory.

Bringing History to Life

One of the highlights of our visit was getting to see original maps and blueprints of the Wadsley Bridge factory. Holding these historical documents in our hands gave us a real sense of connection to the past — and they became a huge inspiration as we worked on creating our own characters for the play we are developing in school. It was amazing to imagine the factory as it once was and think about the people who walked its floors.

Becoming Young Historians

One of the biggest lessons from our work with the archive team was understanding the importance of inquiry skills — learning how to ask great questions, think critically, and search for answers. We also talked about the value of collecting oral histories — the stories passed down through families and communities.

Inspired by this, many of us went home and asked our own family and friends about their memories of Sheffield’s past, and whether anyone had connections to Batchelors. It’s been incredible to hear personal stories that bring history even closer to home.

Why Heritage Matters

Exploring Sheffield’s history in this way has not only deepened our understanding of the past but also helped us think about the role we play in keeping these stories alive. By asking questions and listening to the experiences of others, we are becoming storytellers and historians ourselves — making sure that the people and places that shaped our city are never forgotten.

We can’t wait to share more of what we’ve learned in our upcoming play! Stay tuned!