Buildings and structures in Sheffield

Buildings and structures in Sheffield have been constructed over a time-span ranging from the 13th century to the present day. The majority of

listed buildings

, two of which are in the city centre.

The oldest structure is

ruin. The oldest complete structure is Sheffield Cathedral, parts of which date back to the 13th century. In relation to height, the 78-metre (256 ft) Arts Tower

was the tallest completed building in Sheffield until the St Pauls tower (City Lofts) project was completed in 2011.

History

Pre-19th century

Bishops' House

, built c.1500

At the time of the

Waltheof, 1st Earl of Northampton, which later became the site of the two castles

.

The Domesday Book, which William the Conqueror ordered to be written so that the value of the townships and manors of England could be assessed, mentions :-

LANDS OF ROGER DE BUSLI

In Hallam, one manor with its sixteen hamlets, there are twenty-nine carucates [~14 km²] to be taxed. There Earl Waltheof had an "Aula" [hall or court] ...

Beauchief Abbey was built four miles south-west of what was then a well-established town. In the 12th century a wooden motte-and-bailey castle was built. When this castle was destroyed in 1260, it was replaced with a stone castle, which would stand until the English Civil War.

In November 2005 the

Humber Estuary

.

This discovery offers significant evidence relating to the Medieval town of Sheffield, then still a small market town, before its growth during the subsequent Industrial Revolution. Dating of the well indicates that it was probably dug around the time of the stone reconstruction of Sheffield Castle in 1270 and the granting of Sheffield's Market Charter by Edward I in 1296.

Due to the conditions in the well, animal bones and plant remains (possibly including microscopic pollen grains) have been preserved and will be analysed the University's Department of Archaeology laboratories.

Sheffield's second parish church was built in 1280, replacing the previous 11th-century structure. This was replaced in 1430 with the core of the current structure.

Bishops' House

around 1500.

Sheffield Manor was built in 1510 as an alternative residence for the Earl of Shrewsbury. The manor was to later become famous when Mary, Queen of Scots

, was imprisoned there. Sheffield Castle was largely destroyed during the civil war. The manor was largely demolished in 1706.

Industrial Revolution

Many industrial buildings were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is now a grade I listed building and is used as a museum. Other museums in buildings from the same period are Kelham Island Museum and Shepherd Wheel.

20th century

Many residential buildings were constructed at the turn of the 20th century, which led to the annexing of large parts of the current city. This was followed by a slump, and by 1917 house building had ceased. Construction of the city hall started in 1920.

The years following the

Second World War saw one of the most intense periods of building in the city's history, referred to as the slum clearances

. Slum housing was replaced with a number of large tower blocks, many of which have since been demolished and replaced with housing once more.

Current developments

The £130 million Heart of the City scheme is centred on the location of the former town hall extension. It includes a hotel, offices, the

Millennium Square

. The 101-metre (331 ft) St Paul's Tower (built 2007–2009), is Sheffield's tallest building.

The £50 million

Sheffield Station Gateway

scheme has seen improvements in station facilities and the creation of a public space outside, with a large sculpture called Cutting Edge. Other improvements leading up to the Peace Gardens will create a pedestrian link to the city centre.

Future developments

The largest scheme due to start is the

Sevenstone

Project.

References

^ "City centre dig unearths secrets of medieval Sheffield". University of Sheffield. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

J. Edward Vickers, 1987, A Popular History of Sheffield, The Amethyst Press,
ISBN 0-906787-04-1

Mary Walton, 1984, Sheffield its Story and its Achievements, Applebaum Bookshop Ltd.,
ISBN 0-904293-19-X

[Media_Centre-1] "City centre dig unearths secrets of medieval Sheffield". University of Sheffield. Retrieved 27 December 2011.