Portland Works

Who we are

Portland Works is a community benefit society - owned by over 500 wonderful community shareholders. From steel forging to gin distilling, Portland people are a skilled bunch, practicing an array of traditional and contemporary making within a site of significant historical importance.

Once an iconic cutlery factory, now a creative hive of affordable, restored and retrofitted workshops. The red brick building is one of the oldest examples of a working metal trades factory. Built in 1879, the forge where stainless steel was originally produced - right here, in Sheffield - is still in daily use. The once neglected grade II* listed building is now in a state of continued renovation, steadily transforming a romantic ruin into a dynamic and interesting space fit for future generations of Sheffield makers.

Three years on from our community buy-out things are looking good. We’ve recently represented the city of Sheffield at the International Festival for Business 2016, the Heritage Lottery Fund have given us £100,000 to begin a series of educational collaborations and thanks to funding from the Arts Council we’ve just successfully turned Portland Works ‘inside out’ for Festival of the Mind.