There’s a reason Sheffield is nicknamed the Steel City. Now one of England’s Core Cities, Sheffield was one of the industrial powerhouses of Europe in the 18th century. It was in Sheffield, in the 1740s, that the so-called ‘crucible technique’ for producing steel was developed – a process that helped to pave the way for the Industrial Revolution in Britain. And that’s not the city’s only metallurgical claim to fame: it was a Sheffielder named Harry Brearley who invented stainless steel in 1912, a truly world-changing innovation.
Named in honour of Sheffield’s industrial past, the Crucible Theatre is one of the city’s most popular venues, awarded the prestigious ‘Theatre of the Year Award’ in 2001. Along with the Lyceum Theatre and the Studio Theatre, the Crucible is part of Sheffield’s so-called ‘Theatre Land’, the largest theatre complex outside London. But it was actually snooker that made the Crucible famous worldwide, because since 1977 the theatre has hosted the World Snooker Championships, drawing thousands of snooker-enthusiasts every year.
This design shows the iconic Crucible façade on a cloudy summer’s evening, with the Lyceum Theatre to the right and the sun setting in the distance. Whether you’re a theatre-lover, a snooker-fan, or a Steely Sheffielder, this tea towel is just the thing for you.
