Linking with the National Walking Month theme of ‘Walking for Women’ we decided not only to walk for ourselves but also to remember the remarkable Women of Steel in Sheffield. We did this by walking along the canal, starting from Victoria Quays and taking in the history of the factories where the women worked during the war. The factories are now mostly derelict but it was interesting seeing the remaining buildings and facades and exploring how iron and coal were brought from the River Don through the canal to the factories. I’m sure if you look closely you will recognise a scene from a famous Sheffield film!!
When the men of Sheffield went to war, the women stepped in and vowed to keep the foundry fires burning. It was hard , dirty work and women came from all walks of life to help, from buffer girls, who worked polishing steel to nannies and shopkeepers. The exact number that rallied to the cry is not known but it numbers hundreds and maybe thousands.
The work they took on was vital to the war effort, making not only ammunition but also parts for Hurricanes and Spitfires amongst other vital needs. When the Blitz hit Sheffield the trams stopped running but these amazing women knew they still had to get into work in the factories and some had to walk many miles to get there.
The canal route is now a peaceful haven with lots of wildlife and although we had to detour for a bit due to the bank collapsing, the walk took us to places some of us had never been, even having spent our lives in Sheffield. We also spotted things we did not expect, such as fig trees which grew there because of the heat from the factories. The walk also included some amazing street art from the festival of 2019.
