Sheffield Museums Listing Yorkshire

UK Museums: Sheffield Museums

Museums in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Sheffield is in South Yorkshire, 36 miles south of Leeds. This former steel-making city has a number of interesting museums showcasing the city's past and future. See a listing of museums and galleries in and around Sheffield.

Paintings from the Ruskin Collection. — Paintings from the Ruskin Collection at the Millennium Gallery

Millennium Gallery

The interesting Millennium Gallery is close to Sheffield Station and Sheffield Hallam University. The museum and art gallery showcases a wide range of art, crafts, and design. The space opened in 2001 as part of Sheffield's Heart of the City project which also included nearby Millennium Square. The gallery boasts two permanent collections, along with a further two spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions. There are also areas for hosting corporate events and weddings, as well as a café and a shop.

The permanent Ruskin Collection features a collection of coins, drawings, illustrated books, manuscripts, plaster casts, and prints donated to the city in 1875 by the Victorian scholar and art critic John Ruskin. The collection is owned by the Guild of St George established by Ruskin though managed and rotated by Museums Sheffield at the Millennium Gallery.

The Sykes Gallery Metalwork Collection, totaling over 13,000 objects, is a comprehensive compilation of Sheffield-made cutlery, flatware (forks and spoons), and holloware (such as bowls, teapots, and containers). It serves as a showcase of exemplary design and superior craftsmanship from across the globe, aiming to inspire the city's manufacturers, designers, and artisans.

National Videogame Museum

The National Videogame Museum (NVM) has over 100 contemporary and historic video games as well as videogame software and hardware. The museum began life as the National Videogame Arcade in Nottingham, before moving to Sheffield in 2018. The museum focuses on both contemporary and historic video games. Altogether there are 100 playable video and arcade games on display. These include such classics as Dance Stage Fusion, Gun Blade and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

The collections include the iconic Space Invaders which features the classic 1978 original along with 13 other versions of the game including clones, sequels, and spin-offs. In addition, the museum features various revolving exhibitions from the collection. These have included Masayuki Uemura & the Famicom, the story of the Japanese videogame engineer, Masayuki Uemura, head of Nintendo's R&D2 department (Research and Development) and the creator of the Famicom system.

Kelham Island Museum

The large Kelham Island Museum in the now trendy Kelham Island district of the city is an impressive industrial museum that showcases the city's rich history of steel production and manufacturing.

The museum features a wide range of exhibits that highlight Sheffield's industrial heritage. Visitors can explore displays of historic machinery, tools, and equipment used in steelmaking, engineering, and manufacturing processes. There are also interactive exhibits and demonstrations that provide insight into this Yorkshire city's lengthy, industrial past.

Among the notable exhibits are the River Don Engine, a massive steam engine that was once used to power a local steelworks to produce battleship plate, and the Bessemer Converter, a revolutionary invention in steelmaking history.

The museum is housed in a former industrial complex that was originally built in the 19th century. It was once home to various industries, including steelworks and factories, which played a crucial role in Sheffield's industrial development. The museum opened in 1982 and has recovered from major flooding in 2007.

National Emergency Services Museum

The National Emergency Services Museum is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the history and heritage of emergency services in the United Kingdom. Housed in a historic Victorian police and fire station, the museum offers a comprehensive collection of artifacts, vehicles, and exhibits that chronicle the evolution of emergency services from the 18th century to the present day. Visitors can explore over 30 vehicles, including fire engines, ambulances, police cars and even a lifeboat, alongside a vast array of uniforms, equipment, and interactive displays.

Graves Gallery

On Surrey Street is Graves Gallery located above the Central Library. It houses an impressive collection of British and European fine art, including works by renowned artists such as J.M.W. Turner, Alfred Sisley, Stanley Spencer, Bridget Riley, and Marc Quinn.

Opened in 1934, the gallery was established through the philanthropy of John George Graves, a local businessman, benefactor and Lord Mayor of Sheffield, who donated 700 paintings. The collection spans British and European art, from Renaissance paintings to contemporary pieces. In addition to its permanent collection, Graves Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and various public events.

Anglo-Saxon Benty Grange helmet. — Anglo-Saxon Benty Grange helmet on display at Weston Park Museum

Weston Park Museum

Weston Park Museum is housed in a Grade II listed building within Weston Park. The museum originally opened in 1875 and has undergone significant renovations over time. The museum's diverse collections span natural history, archaeology, social history, and fine arts.

Notable exhibits include the Ancient Egypt exhibition of mummies which replaced the popular 'Arctic World' gallery in 2019 and an extensive array of artifacts related to the city's industrial past. Also on display is a 7th century Anglo-Saxon helmet, the Benty Grange helmet excavated by Thomas Bateman in 1848 from a tumulus at the Benty Grange farm in Monyash in western Derbyshire. The museum also hosted touring exhibits from other major museums including the British Museum and the V&A.

Site Gallery

Site Gallery on Brown Street is a contemporary art space that specializes in moving image, new media and performance. Established in 1979, the gallery has evolved from its origins as a photography gallery to become a venue for contemporary visual art, focusing on new media. Site Gallery showcases works from both emerging and established artists, often providing a platform for those working at the intersections of technology and art. The gallery's program includes a diverse range of exhibitions, residencies, and commissions, alongside public talks and workshops. Site Gallery is also a venue for the annual Sheffield DocFest.