freeman college
Sheffield
Freeman College is located in the Sterling Works in the heart of Sheffield. The
Sterling Works was previously occupied by CW Fletcher and Sons who manufactured
silver cutlery, tableware and trophies. The area surrounding Freeman College has
transformed from industrial factories into education and research buildings,
including Sheffield Hallam University. Freeman College extends through the city
to Butcher Works, which is next door and houses the Academy of Makers and Fusion
Café, and High Riggs, biodynamic gardens and woodlands, located in the greenbelt
surrounding Sheffield. Curriculum Sheffield has been famous for cutlery
manufacturing since the 1800’s and therefore Freeman College has a strong metal
curriculum, and the signature craft is silver spoon forging. Using traditional
methods, students learn to hand forge spoons, forks and knives using copper at
first and once they have developed the skills, they have the opportunity to work
with silver. In addition to forging, students can participate in a wide and
varied range of other craft activities including; Whittletang, Textiles, Copper
Spinning, Pewter work, Jewellery, Iron Age Forge, and Green Woodwork. Connecting
to the Land High Riggs is a 9 acre biodynamic market garden where students can
grow and harvest healthy vegetables to use in the residential homes, cafes and
canteens. In addition, a very successful community veg box scheme is run out of
High Riggs, and students help with harvesting and preparing the vegetables and
ensuring the boxes are ready for collection by the community. There are also
chickens on the site and students help with collecting eggs and feeding and
caring for the animals year round. High Riggs provides an opportunity for
students to come out of the city centre and work on the land, experiencing the
weather and the seasons. Through the seasons and the associated festivals,
students develop a sense of rhythm and time and a deeper understanding of the
natural world around them.
