Bloomery iron smelting returns for the first time in half a Millennium
The challenge, forming part of the eagerly anticipated Cliffhanger event on the weekend of July 14/15, sees the team working up a sweat as they endeavour to perform the age-old act of iron smelting.
Using locally available resources, and knowledge revealed from archaeological excavations, the team will demonstrate the ancient art of converting stones into swords. Hopefully.
Whether they succeed or fail will depend on the good will of the furnace gods and the assistance of the public to help out pumping bellows, charging ore, and preparing charcoal.
Success is not guaranteed but, if it is, it will be the first time that bloomery iron has been smelted in Sheffield for about half a millennium. Either way, it's set to be just one highlight of a packed programme of events for Cliffhanger.
The two-day festival, making its debut at Graves Park, also features dozens of trade stalls selling everything from climbing boots to canoes as well as the first ever outdoor British Bouldering Championships - a skilled climbing event that will be staged on a specially constructed giant `boulder'.
"Cliffhanger is literally the hottest ticket in town," said Kevin Cheetham, Sheffield City Council's outdoor events officer. "I think the public are going to love both watching and getting involved with the iron smelting challenge - and, when you throw into account the excellent weather we're expecting, it all adds up to a bit of a scorcher."
The event is organised by Sheffield City Council Parks and Countryside Department and Woodseats-based outdoor sports event consultants, Heason Events with backing from Decathlon, Spice Yorkshire, Fat Face, Alpkit.com, University of Derby, planetFear.com, Natives.co.uk, Climb Magazine, The Star, Real Radio, Dirty Stop Outs, The British Mountaineering Council, Sports Pulse, Arnold Laver, The Climbing Works, Yorkshire Forward and ERDF.
Cliffhanger - Sheffield's Outdoor Event for Outdoor People, takes place at Sheffield's Graves Park on Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15.
Tickets for Cliffhanger are £5 for adults - but kids, parking and programmes, are free. Head to http://www.cliff-hanger.co.uk/ for more.
For further information, call Kevin Cheetham on: 0114 273 6433 or Matt Heason on: 0114 296 9114/0796 652 9219.
