Highlights of Heritage, Love Sheffield
We are standing on foundations of history, if you care to look...
Sheffield is absolutely steeped in history, and there are so many sites across Sheffield which would appeal to the inquisitive mind… here are just a few highlights to explore, just click on the links for more info and locations.
For our Historians…
This was a medieval castle that was built in the 12th century and became one of the largest and most important in the north of England. It was the site of several historical events, such as the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots and the siege by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War. It was demolished in 1648 and its remains are buried under the modern city centre. The Friends Of Sheffield Castle is an amazing voluntary group seeking to connect us with this amazing highlight of Sheffield’s heritage.
This is a cathedral that was founded in the 12th century and is the oldest building in Sheffield still in daily use. It is a mixture of Gothic, Romanesque and modern styles and features a lantern tower, a stained glass window, a Shrewsbury chapel and an organ. It also hosts various services, concerts and events.
King Edward VII School location
This is a school that was established in 1604 and is one of the oldest schools in Sheffield. It is a Grade II*-listed building that dates back to 1905 and is an exceptionally large and ambitious design for its period. It features a clock tower, a hall, a library and a gymnasium. It also has a rich history of alumni, including politicians, scientists, artists and sportsmen.
Abbeydale Picture House location
This is a cinema that was opened in 1920 and is one of the oldest surviving cinemas in Sheffield. It is a Grade II-listed building that features an auditorium, a balcony, a stage and a projector room. It also hosts various film screenings, live performances and community events.
Beauchief Abbey is a historic site in Sheffield that was once a medieval monastery dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Thomas Becket. The abbey was dissolved in 1537 and its stone was used to build Beauchief Hall. The site has a remaining tower, a chapel, a park, and an alabaster altar-piece depicting Becket's martyrdom. The site is a heritage highlight for historians, architects, archaeologists, gardeners, and curators.
This cemetery was consecrated by the Archbishop of York in 1859 and closed to legal burial in 1968. It covers 5.5 acres and contains over 30,000 graves, including many soldiers from the nearby Hillsborough Barracks. It also contains the grave of Frank Bacon, a four-month-old boy who died in 1854 and whose tombstone was used as a memorial for the victims of the 1862 Sheffield Resurrection Scandal. This scandal involved accusations that the Reverend John Livesey and his sexton Isaac Howard were selling corpses to the medical school for dissection. A riot broke out at the cemetery, which resulted in Livesey and Howard being fined for reusing graves. The cemetery is also notable for being the only one in Britain with an active railway line passing through it. The cemetery is currently managed by the Friends of Wardsend Cemetery, a group of volunteers who aim to restore and research its history and heritage.
For our Curators…
Kelham Island Industrial Museum Location
Kelham Island Museum is an industrial museum that houses exhibitions on science and Sheffield industry, including examples of reconstructed little mesters' workshops and England's largest surviving Bessemer converter. The River Don Engine, which is probably the highlight of the museum, is the most powerful steam engine in Europe. The museum is operated by the Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust and is an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage.
This is a Grade II*-listed building that dates back to 1832 and is the headquarters of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. It is a symbol of Sheffield's cutlery industry and its influence on the city's economy and society. It contains a collection of silverware, paintings and artefacts related to the history of cutlery making.
Shepherd Wheel Workshop location
This is a Grade II*-listed site that dates back to the 16th century and is one of the oldest surviving water-powered grinding workshops in Sheffield. It consists of a water wheel, two grinding troughs, a dam and a mill pond. It shows how Sheffield's cutlers sharpened their blades using water power and natural stones.
This is a Grade II*-listed building that was built in 1879 and is one of the first purpose-built cutlery factories in Sheffield. It is an example of industrial architecture and features cast iron columns, brick walls, slate roofs and metal windows. In a significant milestone in metals development, Ernest Stuart and Harry Brearley first produced stainless steel cutlery here in 1914.
This is a museum that was opened in 1875 and is one of the oldest public museums in Sheffield. It displays collections of natural history, archaeology, social history, art and culture related to Sheffield and its region. It also features interactive exhibits, temporary exhibitions and educational programmes.
This is a gallery that was opened in 2001 and is one of the most visited free attractions in Sheffield. It showcases collections of metalwork, craft, design, art and culture related to Sheffield and its creative industries. It also hosts touring exhibitions from national and international museums and galleries.
National Emergency Services Museum location
This is a museum that was opened in 1984 and is housed in a former police station and fire station. It displays collections of vehicles, equipment, uniforms, documents and memorabilia related to the history and development of emergency services in Sheffield and the UK. It also offers interactive exhibits, guided tours and special events.
For our Architects…
This is a Grade I-listed building that was completed in 1897 and is the seat of local government in Sheffield. It is a fine example of Victorian civic architecture and features a clock tower, a grand staircase, a council chamber and a ballroom. It also houses a war memorial and several statues of notable figures from Sheffield's history.
Bishops' House is a half-timbered house built around 1500, located on the southern tip of Meersbrook Park in the Norton Lees district of Sheffield. It is one of the three surviving timber-framed houses in the city and is a Grade II* listed building. The building has been open as a museum since 1976, following a renovation funded by English Heritage and Sheffield City Council. It is managed by the Friends of Bishops' House and is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 4pm. The house is Sheffield's best-preserved timber-framed building and is steeped in history and charm. Bishops' House is a rare surviving example of Sheffield's pre-industrial past and started life as a farmhouse.
These are Grade II*-listed structures that were built in 1848 and are part of a railway bridge and viaduct that spans the River Don. They are an outstanding example of monumental early railway architecture and engineering. They also reflect the importance of railways for Sheffield's industrial growth and transport links.
This is a Grade II*-listed building that was completed in 1966 and is the tallest university building in the UK. It is an example of modernist architecture and features a distinctive paternoster lift, a revolving door, a spiral staircase and a rooftop viewing platform. It houses the University of Sheffield Library and the School of Architecture.
For our Gardeners…
Sheffield Winter Garden location
This is a modern glasshouse that was opened in 2003 and is one of the largest temperate glasshouses in Europe. It is an example of sustainable architecture and features natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting, solar shading and low-energy lighting. It contains over 2,500 plants from around the world and hosts various cultural events.
Sheffield Botanical Gardens location
These are botanical gardens that were opened in 1836 and are one of the oldest public gardens in Sheffield. They cover 19 acres and contain over 5,000 species of plants from around the world. They also feature a Grade II-listed glass pavilion, a bear pit, a fountain, a rock garden and a rose garden.
Sheffield General Cemetery location
This is a cemetery that was opened in 1836 and is one of the first landscaped cemeteries in the UK. It covers 18 acres and contains over 87,000 burials, including many notable figures from Sheffield's history. It also features a Grade II-listed gatehouse, a chapel, a catacomb, a monument and a nature reserve.
These are public gardens that were opened in 1938 and are located in the heart of Sheffield city centre. They were originally created as a memorial for the victims of World War I and were redeveloped in 1998 as part of the Heart of the City project. They feature a water cascade, a fountain, a war memorial and various sculptures.
Burngreave Cemetery is a highlight heritage site to visit due to its historical significance, architectural design, and beautiful views of the city. The cemetery contains scattered war graves of both World Wars, and behind the Cross of Sacrifice in plot JJ is a Screen Wall commemorating those First World War soldiers. The cemetery has two chapels connected by a central bell turret and spire, designed by the architect William Flockton and Sons in a style described as 'geometrical gothic'. The cemetery occupies an elevated site within a valley which rises to the north-east with fairly steep sides, providing good views of the city centre, the Don Valley, and the hills beyond. Burngreave is also a fascinating area for local history, with an Iron Age fort discovered in Roe Woods, and the cemetery itself covering a total of 27 acres of land.
For our Archaeologists…
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet location
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is an industrial museum which forms part of a former steel-working site on the River Sheaf with a history going back to at least the 13th century. It is a unique eighteenth-century industrial works and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, made up of Grade I and Grade II listed buildings and workshops that were formerly the Abbeydale Works, a scythe-making plant that was in operation until the 1930s.
This is a Grade I-listed site that dates back to the 18th century and is one of the best preserved examples of an industrial complex in Europe. It consists of a water-powered scythe and steel works, workers' cottages, a manager's house, a grinding hut, a tilt hammer and a forge. It demonstrates the development of Sheffield's metalworking industry and its impact on the landscape.
Sheffield Manor Lodge Location
This is a Tudor ruin that was once a grand manor house and hunting lodge, where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned for 14 years. You can visit the Turret House, which is the only surviving part of the original building, and see the Tudor-style gardens and grounds. There is an excellent visitors centre, and an excellent cafe, The Rhubarb Shed nearby.
If you would like to discover more exciting aspects of Sheffield Heritage - be sure to check our our Love Sheffield Heritage group.
If you can see something we've missed in our list, please let us know in our Love Sheffield group or in the comments below. You can also find a huge list of sites on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List.
Really interesting thanks for this