Sheffield Castle

[Bayleaf]

The Following report first appeared in the Transactions of the Hunter Archaeological Society, Volume 4, p7 and is reproduced here in full by kind permission of the Society. ( http://www.shef.ac.u...nter/index.html )

(The superscript notes can be found at the end of the text, before the illustrations)

SHEFFIELD CASTLE.

An Account of Discoveries made during excavations on the site from 1927 to 1929.

By A. LESLIE ARMSTRONG, F.S.A., F.S.I.

THROUGHOUT the six centuries which preceded the Parliamentary Civil War, few of the baronial castles of England could boast a more intimate connection with outstanding men and national events than could the Castle of Sheffield, and it is doubtful if since that time any has suffered such complete destruction or become more entirely forgotten than has the noble pile of buildings which once occupied the high ground at the junction of the River Sheaf with the River Don and towered above the little town of Sheffield.

Before describing the discoveries recently made on the site of this Castle let us recall some of the chief events in its history, in order that we may more fully appreciate the importance of the few remains of the building and relics of its occupants which have been brought to light.

Ignoring the possibility that such a strategic position may have been occupied by the Romans, in favour of which the few sherds of Roman pottery found are not necessarily evidence, actual proof has been provided by the excavations of the existence there of a pre-Conquest Saxon building of timber which was succeeded by a more substantial structure, partly of wood and partly of stone, which housed the Norman Lords and their retainers from about the year 1100.

(See http://www.sheffield...showtopic=6138)

It was from this building that the De Lovetot knights, and later the De Furnivals, with their following of Sheffield men-at-arms, rode forth to the Crusades in the Holy Land, and the Castle in which the Furnivals, in 1266, made such stout, though futile, resistance to the rebellious barons, resulting in the stronghold itself and the town which looked to it for protection, being alike consumed by fire.

(See http://www.sheffield...i...c=6155&hl=)

As a reward for loyalty, Thomas de Furnival was permitted by Henry III, in 1270, to raise, phoenix-like, upon the ashes of the ancient building, a castle of massive walls and noble towers, described by Harrison in his Survey of 1637 as

"fairly built with stone and very spacious,"

and which for nearly four centuries was the home of a long line of illustrious Lords of Hallamshire, Furnivals, Nevils, Shrewsburys and Howards.

The ruins recently uncovered are remnants of this Castle which Thomas de Furnival built in 1270. In it dwelt the great Sir John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, a knight famed throughout Europe and historically one of the outstanding figures of the middle ages and last of the knights of chivalry. We may feel fairly certain that Cardinal Wolsey was received there during his stay of 16 or 18 days in 1530 as the guest of George the fourth Earl, ( See http://www.sheffield...showtopic=6119)

and a few years later it was within its walls that Mary, the unfortunate Queen of Scots, was kept a close prisoner for nearly 14 years from 1571.

During the Civil War it was garrisoned and held for the King, besieged by the Parliamentary forces, and finally surrendered to them on August 11th 1644.

The strength and important position of the building was deemed to be a menace to the State and therefore, in 1646, an order was issued by Parliament for its demolition, and in 1649-50 the castle was stripped of its plenishings and ignominiously destroyed.

It is almost unbelievable that no authentic plan or illustration is known to exist of a building destroyed so recently as 1650, and which for 550 years had been so extensive and important as Sheffield Castle undoubtedly was, and equally surprising that no record has been preserved, even locally, of its situation and extent, except in the place- names of the neighbourhood ! Such, however, is the case. Except for meagre and scattered references, the only contemporary description we possess of the Castle is that contained in the survey of the Manor of Sheffield made by John Harrison in 1637 for the Earl of Arundel. [1]

The work of demolition was so thoroughly carried out by the officers of Parliament [2] that very little was left standing, and what remained became a quarry for the townspeople, who seem to have completed the destruction of the building and carried away all the visible masonry, with the result that only those portions remained intact which were deeply buried beneath the debris resulting from the demolition.

A century later the site of the building had become a comparatively level area with steep slopes on the north and east sides where the glacis beyond the outer walls had descended to the two flanking rivers.

On the south the great ditch, formerly 30 feet wide and

"18 feet deep with water in it,"

described in Vicar's Parliamentary Chronicle [3], and which defended the Castle on that side, had become almost entirely obliterated with debris, and in the course of time buildings were erected above it and the slight depression which marked the line of the old fosse was utilized in the provision of cellars.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the contours were further altered and the level raised by the successive erection and demolition of buildings on the site. Cupola furnaces, scale-cutting shops and forges were built above the central courtyard and the great hall and chapel of the former Castle. Inns, shops and cottages fronted to Waingate and Castlefolds.

The ditch on the east had become a steep and narrow lane, known as Castle Folds Lane, with buildings backed up against and entirely obscuring all traces of the former glacis on that side, as did similar buildings on the north side, parallel with the Don. Warehouses, shops, workshops, stables and slaughter-houses crowded the whole area of the ancient castle and its precincts and at the close of the nineteenth century its degradation was complete; only the traditional names such as Castle Hill, Castle Folds, Castle Green, Waingate, &c., remained to indicate the former existence of a great mediaeval Castle in the vicinity, and the exact position of the building itself was a matter of conjecture and opinion.

Such were the conditions prevailing in 1899 when the City Council, impelled by the need of street improvements, was led to acquire this area from the Duke of Norfolk, and the site upon which so many of his ancestors had lived and died, and which had been held by the family continuously since 1100, became for the first time the subject of a legal conveyance and passed into other hands.

In 1915 a large portion of the site, including the corner of Waingate and Exchange Street, was purchased by the Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society for the erection of business premises, work upon which was begun in 1927. The plans of the building included a basement over the whole area and, in view of its proximity to the probable site of the castle, it was reasonable to expect that some trace of the building itself might come to light whilst making the requisite excavations.

As Local Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London, it was my duty to watch this work, and I was appointed by the Committee of the Hunter Archaeological Society to do so on its behalf also; facilities for this were freely given by the Co-operative Society, the architect and the contractor, and every assistance rendered to secure a record of the various findings.

When, in 1928, work was commenced by the Corporation on the Castle Hill Market, at the rear of the Co-operative Stores, and which covers most of the remaining area of the castle, equal assistance was given to me by the City Architect and the clerk of works, to obtain every possible shred of evidence which was revealed in the course of that work also.

The joint results obtained on the two sites have been most gratifying. Meagre as the remains uncovered are in comparison with the former extent of the Castle they are nevertheless considerable and sufficient to give a comprehensive idea of its proportions and general character.

Much valuable information has also been gleaned relative to the situation of the more important buildings and the boundaries of the stronghold, as well as an assortment of relics indicative of various phases of everyday life over the long period of its history. Before describing them in detail the general findings may be summarized thus :

On the Site of the Co-operative Stores.

(1) Walling to a total height of 21 feet and extending 40 feet east to west, comprising the base of a massive circular bastion or angle tower which rose directly out of the ditch and flanked on one side a gateway, believed to be the principal entrance to the castle, in front of which a rectangular gatehouse projected into the ditch; of this approximately half was uncovered.

(2) The drawbridge pier, situated in the centre of the ditch, opposite the gatehouse.

(3) The relation of the level of the existing roadway in Exchange Street to the surface level of the approach to the castle and its defences at the period of its demolition.

(4) The course of the ditch on the east and south of the castle and its relation to the buildings, also numerous cross sections of the ditch.

(5) A valuable series of pottery fragments, including a wide range of wares covering the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, also objects of iron, brass, stone and wood, shoes of various periods, coins, personal ornaments, weapons, glass, shells, bones, &c., recovered principally from the ditch.

On the Site of the New Markets.

(1) Extensive foundations and lengths of walling forming the front of buildings on the eastern side of the main court of the castle, also part of a vaulted apartment.

(2) The site of an important building, probably the chapel or the approach to the great hall, and the base of a large circular pier.

(3) The boundaries of the Castle and the slope of the glacis beyond the outer walls on the east and north sides, and their relation to the two flanking rivers.

(4) The surface level of the main courtyard at numerous points, and its relation to the present surface level of Exchange Street.

(5) Traces at two points of the De Lovetots Castle, destroyed by fire in 1266, including an extensive section and the relation of the ground level of that period to the ground level of the courtyard of Thos. de Furnival's castle of 1270.

(6) Extensive evidence of the presence of a large Saxon structure of wood lying beneath the remains of the Castle destroyed in 1266 and its exact relation in regard to level, with the two Castles which succeeded it.

(7) A few fragments of pottery, masonry, bones, &c.

(8) A further portion of the large circular bastion, a continuation of that uncovered upon the site of the Co-operative Stores.

Situation and Boundaries.

By reference to the General Plan (Plan No. 1) it will be seen that the Co-operative Society's premises occupy ground formerly occupied by the great ditch and outer defences on the south side of the castle. It is known that the principal gateway was situated on this side and there is little doubt that the remains uncovered in preparing foundations for the north wall of the new building, at the north-east end of the site, are portions of this main entrance and represent the gatehouse and its western flanking tower.

This entrance and its two towers was evidently set diagonally between the south and east walls of the Castle and arose directly out of the ditch, in the centre of which was a great pier, or piers, to receive the drawbridge when lowered. The excavations have shown that opposite this entrance the ditch curved round sharply east of north, towards the Sheaf, its continuation being represented in recent times by the steep and narrow Castle Folds Lane.

In the reverse direction the ditch travelled obliquely across the site south-south-west, quitting it near the corner of the new building, where it appeared to be heading across Waingate in the direction of Castle Street. Future excavations would probably determine its actual course in this direction.

Westwards of the bastion tower no trace whatever was discovered of the south wall of the castle, or anything which suggested its former presence. The numerous sections of the old surface level obtained in the foundation cuttings also revealed the rather surprising fact that the wall had neither run parallel with the ditch nor been in close proximity with it, except opposite the main entrance. Possibly this wall was completely demolished, but bearing in mind its great thickness, it seems unlikely that every vestige of it and its footings would be taken away. The dressed masonry of the facing might be carried off, but not the whole of the rubble backing.

From these facts and the appearance of the bastion tower on its western side, which will be described later, I am led to the conclusion that the line of this wall is situated a short distance to the north of the rear wall of the Co-operative Stores, upon the ground now occupied by Castle Hill Market.

Unfortunately no foundation pits were required to be sunk on that site sufficiently near the probable line of the wall to reveal evidence of its position. In general, the new market covers the site of a large portion of the great inner courtyard of the Castle and the buildings which flanked this courtyard on its eastern side, of which buildings extensive remains were uncovered and have been carefully preserved. The fragments of glass, window tracery and mullions found hereabouts, together with the base of a massive circular pier, in position, indicate that some of the more important apartments of the castle were situated on this side of the courtyard, most probably the hall and the great chamber, which, in the account of the funeral of the fifth Earl of Shrewsbury⁴ are referred to as being in proximity to each other. It seems likely also that the chapel was hereabouts.

From an examination of the buildings found, their state at the north end clearly shows that they continued much further in that direction, and that the north wall of the castle and any apartments on that side of the courtyard were situated some distance beyond the north wall of the new market. Possibly some traces of these may yet be found when that area is cleared and excavations become necessary. The demolition of the shambles and the cutting of the proposed new street parallel with the Don will perhaps provide evidence, which is at present lacking, as to the exact slope of the glacis and the presence of possible out-works on that side.

The western boundary of the castle and the position of the ditch there is very obscure, and the only evidence we have is negative evidence. The numerous trenches and foundation shafts dug on the market site revealed no ancient masonry, but they provided a series of interesting sections of the inner courtyard showing it to have been consistent in level in the seventeenth century, and that it continued westwards beyond the market area towards Waingate.

They also showed how the original ground surface had sloped considerably from south to north and how the levels had altered during the long period of its occupation. The Saxon level was that of the old surface. The builders of the Castle destroyed in 1266 had raised the ground in various places and partially levelled it, and the surface of that occupation was well defined by a black band of ashes, charcoal and other evidence of tire at various points.

Thomas de Furnival, when building his Castle, had slightly raised the whole area of his courtyard and rendered it level by the addition of considerable material on the west and north. Though extensive excavations were made for basements and foundations in the building of Messrs. Foster's premises and other new buildings fronting to Waingate, when the street was widened recently, no signs of the Castle wall or of any apartments on that side appear to have been met with, and the ditch was certainly not encountered in any of the excavations I was privileged to examine. In this relation it may be recalled that the old Lady's Bridge was approached from the south by steps which, it is said, were just under the castle wall. Though this expression does not necessarily imply contiguity, it indicates that the wall was in the vicinity of the bridge. It is therefore probable that the western wall and ditch followed approximately the course of old Waingate, possibly somewhat west of it at the top and to the east at the Lady's Bridge end, where we appear to have some evidence of its actual position.

I am informed that during the erection of Messrs. Stokes new premises, south of the Bull and Mouth Hotel at the bottom of Waingate, a considerable depth of black sludge-like material was encountered when excavating for the basement, which suggested the presence there of the ancient ditch.

The recent demolition of the buildings which occupied Castle Hill immediately behind the Bull and Mouth has revealed the position of the north-west corner of the glacis, and having regard to the position of Messrs. Stokes' premises in relation to this glacis and to Lady's Bridge, it is highly probable that the river end of the ditch was situated at that point.

Bearing in mind the complete obliteration of the ditch on the south side, it is not unlikely that a great deal of the western ditch lies beneath Waingate, part of it under the Court House, and the remainder and the south-west corner somewhere in the vicinity of Castle Street. If a careful watch is kept when excavations are made from time to time in that locality, this obscure and interesting point may yet be cleared up.

It is recorded in a Note on page 239 of vol. i. of these Transactions, that during the improvement of Waingate, excavations for a new building "just below the site of the Royal Hotel" disclosed fragments of a paved roadway, the direction and extent of which it was not possible to trace. The precise position and depth of this is unfortunately not stated, It may have been part of the paving of the courtyard of the Castle, but most probably had no relation whatever to it.

It is also recorded that

"excavations made for a new building in Exchange Street showed the outline of a ditch which appeared to run parallel with the line of the street,"

This was perhaps an outwork of the Castle or a trench dug during the siege, but the recent excavations have plainly shown that it was not part of the main ditch of the building.

Site of the Co-operative Stores

First Discoveries

As the excavation of the basement for this building proceeded one of the most surprising revelations was the enormous depth of the "made ground" which covered the site. Over the whole of the area the average thickness of this material was 12 feet, measured from the present footpath level in Exchange Street and along the line of the ancient ditch the total thickness increased to 33 feet. Much of this was mortar and debris resulting from the demolition of the castle, the infilling of the ditch consisting almost entirely of such, but the major portion of the material over the general site represented subsequent accumulations of eighteenth and nineteenth century date, as indicated by the pottery and coins.

During the first few weeks nothing of greater importance was forthcoming than a few Georgian copper coins, two eighteenth century Sheffield tokens, a stoneware rum bottle marked "Old No. 12" and interesting fragments of early eighteenth century pottery, including various slip wares which appear to have been derived from Midhope Potteries. A series of clay pipes was also collected.

At the north-east corner abundant evidence was forthcoming of the presence there in Georgian days of a scale-cutting establishment where ivory, bone and stag antler were worked for knife handles.

Amongst the Castle debris outside the area of the ditch was found a halfpenny of Wililiam III and Mary and an Irish halfpenny of James II, also a few arquebus and musket balls of lead, lying in the brown humus which marked the surface level of the demolition period. A few metal buttons and the numerous objects found in the ditch call for more detailed description and will be dealt with later.

Not until a depth of 12 feet was reached below the level of Exchange Street was any ancient walling uncovered. The first piece revealed was in September 1927, and consisted of a short length of rough masonry about the point marked "A" on Plan No. 1. This may have been built of material derived from the castle but, from its construction, thickness and general character, I do not consider that it was contemporary with, or formed any part of, the main building. This view was confirmed by the later discoveries.

Though closely watched nothing of importance was found until October 1927, when, at a depth of 16 feet, the top of a length of tooled ashlar walling was revealed in the foundation trench for the north wall of the new building. This was unmistakably mediaeval in character. The wall proved to be two courses in height, each of 11 inches, built upon 7 inch footings resting upon clay, and spreading an extreme of 5 inches at the north end but merging into the face of the wall at a distance of 4 feet 6 inches along it (Fig. 1). The ashlar facing was of fine jointed masonry laid in courses 12 and 14 inches on bed backed with flat-bedded rubble, only partially grouted in mortar, and was obviously several feet in thickness.

It was noticed that the face was built upon a curve of considerable radius, but its actual character was not at that time apparent. A few days later, at a depth of 18 feet 6 inches, the top of a massive ashlar base course appeared in the same trench, 30 feet to the east, built upon a corresponding radial curve and beyond it a rectangular structure of which two faces were definable, the nature of which was not clear (Fig. 5), but which ultimately proved to be a part of the gatehouse.

As the excavations proceeded, the plan of the curved wall was revealed from east to west, and it was seen to be part of a great bastion tower, having a radius of 20 feet, faced with ashlar and backed up solid with flat-bedded rubble, the total thickness of which it was not possible to ascertain either then or at any later date. A thickness of 12 feet was measurable without reaching the back, at a height of 3 feet above the base course of the tower, and there is reason to believe that it had been built solid for at least that height.

As the foundation trench for the new wall was deepened it became apparent that the ancient tower and gatehouse abutted directly upon the Castle ditch. The excavated material at first consisted of debris from the demolition, but the last 13 feet of its depth was composed of a black tenacious sludge, none too fragrant, which enclosed quantities of kitchen refuse, ashes, animal bones, shells of oyster and land and fresh-water snails, pottery, cannon-balls and stone ballista-balls, knives, keys, personal ornaments, coins, glass, fragments of wood and leather, shoes and soles, &c. It was at this point that the finds were most numerous and important, and in the early days were recovered during the daily visits by personally turning over the sludge thrown out of the trench.

Though a bonus was offered for all finds, the men were not sufficiently keen to look out for objects of interest until stimulated by the finding of the key (Plate 1, 1) near the bottom of the ditch. It is certain that this rich section would have yielded much more had it been possible to give the work constant supervision and to examine the whole of the material before it was carted away to the tip.

The bottom of the ditch was not reached until the trench had been sunk to a depth of 14 feet 6 inches below the plinth course of the gatehouse, a total depth of 33 feet below the level of Exchange Street. The walls of the gatehouse and bastion then stood revealed to a total height of 21 feet and, from the bottom of the moat, formed an impressive sight which will not be readily forgotten by those privileged to see it.

The Bastion Tower and Gatehouse.

The remains uncovered of these portions of the castle extended a total distance of 40 feet from east to west. The tower is, without doubt, a part of Thos. de Furnival's castle of 1270, but the gate- house is a subsequent addition thereto. Plan No. 2 shows the relation of the gatehouse to the tower and also the position of the ruins regard to the buildings now erected on the site, and Sections 1 and 2 give details of the respective plinth courses. The whole of the upper part of the gatehouse exposed, and part of the tower, has been preserved in situ in a sub-basement beneath the Co-operative Stores, where they can be seen by those interested.

Of the remainder, only such portions were pulled down as actually interfered with the plan of the Stores, and as much as possible has been left in position. The tower was of excellent workmanship, faced with tooled ashlar built in 9 inch to 12 inch courses, and rose from a magnificent ashlar plinth 24 inches in height, splayed outwards in two bold chamfers (Section 1). Despite its exposure to the weather for four centuries there was no sign of disintegration of the masonry, and the stone used, which is a fine grained freestone, slightly grey in colour when fractured, is believed to have come from the vicinity of Handsworth from beds long since worked out.

Of the central portion, seven courses, measuring 6 feet 6 inches above the plinth, were still intact (Fig. 2), but the height diminished to three courses at the western extremity (Fig. 1), and on the east only the plinth remained standing (Figs. 3 and 4). At several points, notably upon the plinth course seen in Fig. 4, the weathered pittings resulting from the impact of musket balls were conspicuous, as were also large saucer-like depressions, probably caused by cannon, or ballista balls. These were noticeable upon the face of the tower and particularly so upon the base of the gatehouse wall beneath the plinth, where two large depressions of this nature suggested drain outlets until examined and cleaned, when the crushed and splintered state of the stone revealed their origin. One of these depressions can be seen in Fig. 7, and another in Fig. 8, near the lower portion of the picture and upon the left side.

It was found that the plinth continued only for five-sixths of the circumference of the tower, ceasing where it intersected the glacis, which appears to have descended steeply from the outer wall of the castle, west of the tower, to the margin of the ditch. Therefore the massive plinth course had given place to simple footings at this point, as seen in Fig. 1.

This fact, together with sections obtained of the glacis, clearly demonstrated that the castle wall west of the tower was not parallel with the ditch which, as will be seen from Plan No. 1, bears south-west from the bastion, and therefore only that portion provided with a plinth course actually ascended from the ditch.

From this, together with other significant factors observed during excavations in the ditch, and which will be referred to later, I am led to the conclusion that the ditch considerably ante-dates the castle and may even be of Saxon origin. The ancient gateway which this tower defended appears to have been deeply recessed between its two bastions, as a further sector of the plinth course was uncovered at the rear of the Co-operative Stores, upon the market site. Part of this plinth was, with much difficulty, cut out, and has been placed in the chamber beneath the Castle Hill Market, which encloses the ruins found there.

Probably the gatehouse, which is clearly of more recent date, was added for the accommodation of the draw bridge machinery and to increase the strength of the main entrance of the castle. It is a rectangular structure projecting a distance of 6 feet from its junction with the tower and having walls 2 feet 6 inches thick on the sides and 1 foot 6 inches on the front. In workmanship it is much inferior to the tower, being built of roughly chiselled masonry in irregular and rather narrow courses. It is provided with an ashlar plinth similar to that of the tower, though modified in height (Section 2), and mitres with the older plinth with a butted joint. No attempt has been made to bond the new work to the old. The cavity between the tower and the walls of the gatehouse had been filled in solid with earth and clay, and as fragments of fourteenth century pottery were found in this filling, on the market site, some indication is given as to the period of its erection.

Beneath the plinth the walls of both gatehouse and tower were boldly splayed outwards at an angle of 75 degrees into the ditch. The excavations exposed the full height of the gatehouse wall (Figs. 7 and 8) and it is to be regretted that a similar exposure of the tower was not possible. From what was seen, however, it was easy to picture the strength and massive dignity of the entrance to the castle in the days of its pride.

The Drawbridge Pier.

Immediately opposite the gatehouse and occupying a central position in the ditch, a massive pier of tooled ashlar, contemporary in date with the bastion tower, was disclosed in December 1927, when sinking a shaft for foundation purposes.

The complete dimensions of the pier were not obtainable, as only the north-west angle was exposed, but the visible portion of the two faces measured 3 feet on the north and 2 feet 8 inches on the west side, and showed the pier to be parallel with the front of the gatehouse wall. From its height and general character there can be little doubt that it is the pier which received the movable portion of the drawbridge (Fig. 10).

Its height was 7 feet 6 inches above the bottom of the ditch, built in courses 10 inches and 12 inches deep with joints of only one-eighth of an inch in thickness. In preservation and workmanship it rivalled the masonry of the bastion and was greatly admired by the workmen employed on the new building. No portion was destroyed, but it was surrounded by concrete and incorporated in the foundation for the steel column erected at that point.

The South and East Ditches.

The course of the ditch on the south and east sides has already been described, and is indicated upon Plan No. 1.

Sections 4 to 7 show the contour and depth of the south ditch at various points, also its relation to the level of the castle courtyard and to the present level of Exchange Street. The following observations respecting the ditch are worthy of record.

The foundation shaft sunk at "B" on Plan No. 1, which was in the centre of Castle Folds Lane, revealed the south side of the ditch and showed that it curved sharply to the north- east and passed beneath the premises in the rear of the Rotherham House Hotel, where its course was again defined by further excavations which gave definite proof that northwards Castle Folds Lane marked the centre of the old eastern ditch.

The shaft at "B" also showed that the ditch had been cut through rock for the last 7 feet of its depth, leaving on the south side an almost vertical face. The softer beds of this rock having become disintegrated by reason of sub- mergence, assisted by the action of frost, were in consequence deeply coved and undercut, demonstrating the destructive power of these two agencies and also the formidable obstacle that such a face must have presented, in combination with deep water filling a wide ditch, opposite what otherwise was the most vulnerable point of the castle. This excavation made it clear that the ditch was considerably deeper on the south side of the castle than it was upon the east, and for that reason it had permanently contained water. No doubt this at times overflowed into the shallower continuation on the east side and found its outlet into the Sheaf, but normally the eastern ditch was a dry one, a fact which the series of excavations along Castle Folds Lane established.

There is reason to believe that when the castle was in occupation the River Sheaf flowed considerably nearer to it than the present artificial course suggests, and therefore a strong defence would be provided on that side by the river and its high bank surmounted by the dry ditch, from which the glacis sloped steeply upwards to the castle walls.

To return to shaft "B," a further point of interest there was the disclosure in its western side of masonry of similar character to that of the drawbridge pier. This was 12 feet in height and had suffered partial demolition, but from the direction of its face and its relation to the gatehouse and drawbridge pier, it was evidently part of the eastern end of that or a similar pier. Excavations for the new basement, south of this point, provided a clearly defined section through to Exchange Street showing the gradient of the approach to the drawbridge, the line of which approximated to that of Castle Folds Lane.

Those who remember this lane will recall the steep incline just beyond the old Rotherham House premises. This marked the position of the precipitous slope on the south side of the ditch, the contour of which had been modified by infilling.

The various shafts sunk along the course of the south ditch which gave the information from which the plan and sections have been drawn, provided abundant evidence that it had always held a considerable volume of water, though its depth had fluctuated, also that few attempts had ever been made to clean it out as the relics, particularly pottery, occurred in fairly stratified order.

In the bottom, twelfth and thirteenth century pottery was abundant and, what is more important and significant, several fragments of Saxon pottery were found there. At various points a layer of brownish peat, 8 inches in thickness and composed of reeds and aquatic plants, was found overlying 7 to 8 feet of black sludge and covered by similar material 4 to 5 feet thick. This suggests that the water level had been raised during the sixteenth century, or a little earlier.

In places near the top of the black sludge, the presence of sphagnum moss, reeds and rushes indicate that in the seventeenth century only a moderate depth of water existed, covering a bottom of mud, deep and treacherous. Shells of two species of freshwater snail were observed here.

In the bottom of a shaft west of the drawbridge pier ("C" on - plan) a most interesting defensive work was disclosed, formed of three rows of riven oak piles arranged in eschelon, and driven vertically into the original bottom of the ditch. They were approximately 5 inches square and projected 2 or 3 feet in height, with their ends sharpened, and upon removal they proved to be 5 to 6 feet long.

As they were deeply buried beneath the sludge they obviously represented early defences. The abundance of straight brushwood encountered in many sections of the ditch, and always in the upper levels beneath the castle debris, suggested that fascines had been used during the attack upon the castle by the Parliamentary forces as aids in the crossing of the ditch.

The varied assortment of relics found in the ditch has already been enumerated. These occurred most plentifully around the area of the drawbridge, particularly the kitchen refuse such as potsherds, animal bones, antlers of red deer, roe and fallow deer, and oyster shells.

Having in mind the lavish scale of providing on great occasions, as instanced in the feast recorded at the funeral of Francis Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, in 1560, when "50 does and 29 red deer" were killed to provide the venison for one meal, the abundance of debris is not surprising. Its presence in this vicinity points to the location of the kitchens on this side of the castle.

Fragments of coal were also numerous and occurred freely in the Elizabethan levels, as did also the earliest of the clay pipes. The latter have bowls so small that a lead pencil can only just be inserted. Near the top of the ditch several lumps of smelted iron were found, also five iron cannon balls, and near the bottom three stone ballista balls, of which the largest is 7 inches in diameter.

A number of naturally rounded cobbles of large size may have been utilized for a similar purpose. Amongst the demolition debris were fragments of chamfered stone mullions and window jambs, and two pieces of window tracery, probably from windows of the hall or chapel.

A large piece of a moulded plaster ceiling rib was also found (Section 9).

The use of three stone objects found in the deepest portions of the ditch I have been unable to determine (Plate III, 9). They were associated with the ballista balls and are made of similar stone, hemispherical in form and varying from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. The flat base shows no signs of rubbing and the domed upper surface is roughly shaped by chipping, the whole closely resembling a large prehistoric stone scraper. Quite possibly these were used for dressing and softening leather.

The Market Site.

The ruins uncovered on the site of the Castle Hill Market during 1928-29 comprise parts of buildings fronting the courtyard and occupying its eastern side. These are indicated upon Plans No. 1 and No. 3. The whole have been preserved intact and enclosed within a chamber constructed beneath the market hall, to which access can be obtained at the rear.

Of the courtyard face a length of 15 feet remains. The outer wall is 5 feet 3 inches thick, faced with hammer- dressed stone built in narrow courses and rising from a double chamfered ashlar plinth course (Section 3). At the northern end the upper member of this plinth is returned and stopped into the lower chamfer and from thence continues as a single chamfered plinth.

The southern end of the ruin commences at what appears to have been a doorway or passage entrance, and eastwards part of the internal walls of certain apartments are preserved, all being faced with stone similar to the external walls. At the northern extremity is part of a cellar, or dungeon, with a barrel vaulted roof of stone.

A narrow passage at the south-west side of this vaulted chamber may have been the approach to it, but no trace of steps remains.

Three mason's marks are incised upon the courtyard plinth course, one of which was found to exactly correspond with a mark observed previously upon the plinth course of the bastion tower. These are illustrated in Plate IV. This fact, together with the general character of the masonry, points to the contemporaneity of these two portions of the castle and therefore we may safely ascribe the courtyard ruins to the castle of Thomas de Furnival also.

The buildings on this side must have abutted directly upon the outer wall of the castle, but of that not a vestige remained. Its complete destruction is attributable to the erection of buildings in Castle Folds Lane, which were backed against the glacis and their upper storeys approached from the level of Castle Hill. Some of the walls of these buildings on the Castle Folds Lane frontage were built of masonry in large blocks which had frequently caused them to be mistaken for actual parts of the castle walls. That they were built of castle material was amply demonstrated during their demolition, and evidently the ruins of the eastern wall of the Castle had provided a handy quarry when they were built.

At the point marked "D" on Plan No. 1 the circular base of a large stone pier was found in situ. This is 2 feet 6 inches in diameter and 2 feet high. Around the top is a chamfer, but this, in common with the whole upper surface, has been partly hacked away as it interfered with the foundations of a nineteenth century building erected there. From its appearance it is probably of thirteenth century date, but it may be earlier, and was most likely the base of a column in the chapel or great hall.

The Castle of the de Lovetots.

Substantial evidence was obtained during the excavations for the Castle Hill Market that the Norman castle destroyed by fire in 1266 had occupied the eastern portion of the site and that much of it stood upon ground which subsequently became the courtyard of Thomas de Furnival's castle. It appears to have been built partly of wood and partly of stone, and probably for its defence relied more upon the surrounding ditches and rivers than upon the strength of its walls.

Abundant evidence of its destruction by fire was met with at various points in the form of a layer, from 4 to 8 inches in thickness, composed of charcoal and wood ash combined in places with calcined rubble and fragments of dressed masonry displaying damage by fire.

A particularly well defined layer of this nature, and a series of important disclosures, resulted from what was practically the last excavation made in forming the chamber to enclose the ruins of the buildings found on the market site. This revealed a layer, from 9 to 12 inches in thickness, of ashes and burnt stones representing remains of the twelfth century building, and at a depth of 3 feet beneath this layer an extensive section of the floor and outer wall of a Saxon building. Observation holes have been constructed in the wall of the chamber, permanently exposing lengths of both these levels, and as they are opposite to and only 5 feet distant from the preserved ruins of Furnival's castle, it is possible to see at one time the remains of the three successive buildings which have occupied the site and to observe the great changes in ground level which have taken place since Saxon times (Fig. 14 and Plate V).

The Saxon Remains.

The remains of the Saxon building were both extensive and substantial. Whatever its purpose may have been the stratigraphical evidence proves beyond all doubt that it considerably ante-dates the castles of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

In construction and general character it was essentially Saxon, and its position in relation to the two precipitous slopes northwards to the Don and eastwards to the Sheaf, suggest that it was a building of importance which relied upon these natural features for its defence on those sides.

The remains exposed measured 23 feet from north to south and comprised two complete bays and part of a third bay, of a timber building, the roof of which had been supported upon massive crutches, or "crucks" of oak. The lower portion of two of these oak crutches remained in position, and there were traces of a third which had been destroyed during the erection of an eighteenth century building. The crutches were placed at 9 feet centres and had been embedded in the ground 1 to 1½ feet, the foot of the crutch resting upon a flat slab of stone. One crutch has been left in its original position and the second is preserved in the chamber. They measure 13 inches by 14 inches and 12 inches by 13 inches respectively, and have been shaped with the axe. Both had been chopped down to a few inches above floor level when the building was destroyed.

At the ground level of the period a horizontal beam of oak, about 9 inches square, had been jointed between the crutches and a floor formed over the interior of the building composed of 6 to 9 inches of hard packed clay, very black and tenacious, upon which a reinforcement of wattle was laid ½ to 1 inch in diameter spaced 1 to 2 inches apart. The branches were parallel, running across the floor at right angles to the horizontal beam and overlapping it, and amongst them hazel and birch were recognizable. This layer of wattle had then been covered by a second layer of padded earth and clay, 2 to 3 inches in thickness, which formed the floor surface. Some of the wattle can still be seen in the sections preserved, but it is to be regretted that a great deal of it has been pulled out by souvenir hunters (Fig. 14).

Evidence of fire was not at first noticeable, but as the floor was more fully exposed the presence of charcoal and wood ashes over its surface made it clear that fire had played some part in the destruction of the Saxon building. Probably this took place when William the Conqueror ravaged the north in 1069. The site had obviously lain waste and deserted for a considerable period before the de Lovetot's castle was erected there, as debris and humus to a depth of nearly two feet had accumulated in the meantime.

Traces of the Saxon level were found at several other points, notably 50 feet southwards, where the presence of a thick band of black earth and clay appeared to represent part of the floor, but without the wattle reinforcement, and the indications were that the building had been of large size with a wide roof span, the direction of its length being north to south.

Sixteen feet distant from the portion exposed to view, and 12 feet to the east of it, a thick bed of peaty material was encountered, enclosing remains of reeds as well as kitchen refuse, including bones of deer, ox and pig, and indicating the presence there of a shallow pool of water. As the level was only slightly below the floor level of the building its proximity perhaps explains the wattle reinforcement of the floor.

The finding of several pieces of Saxon pottery in the bottom of the south ditch has already been mentioned. In my opinion their presence is very important and significant of an early date for that defensive work, a view which is supported by the evidence of the three rows of sharpened stakes in the ditch which have already been described and are of the type commonly used in early defences in conjunction with a stockade on the inner side. A further argument in favour of this view is the fact that the walls of the two later buildings did not in either case conform with the line of the ditch. Had it been dug by the twelfth century builders or by Thomas de Furnival, surely this would not have been the case. The ditch was perhaps improved and widened by them, but in outline and character it is just such as one would expect to find defending an important Saxon homestead and, further protected by a stockade of wood, the area enclosed would provide sufficient and safe asylum for man and beast at all times. Whether the Aula of Waltheof stood upon this site or not is likely to always remain a matter of opinion.

(See http://www.sheffield...showtopic=6138)

If it did, then the Saxon remains discovered here are portions of it. Its location at Hallamgate rests upon the interpretation of a fifteenth century document and the evidence in favour of Stannington is scarcely more satisfactory. At neither of these places are there any earthworks such as must have existed, and which one might reasonably expect to have survived, neither has any archaeological evidence such as pottery or other relics been found, despite active operations of the builder and the plough.

An equally significant fact is that at neither Hallam gate nor Stannington have we a strategic position such as would naturally be chosen for the Aula of so great a Saxon earl as Waltheof. On the other hand, the high ground overlooking the Don and Sheaf presents an ideal position for defence, stragetically the best in the district, requiring merely a fosse upon the south and west to render it secure. Upon this key position we have the remains of an extensive timber building of typical Saxon construction, associated with an apparently early fosse and placed in the best defended position on the site. It is a building which had been destroyed by fire, and which upon clear stratigraphical evidence had existed prior to the erection of the de Lovetot's castle in which they are known to have been living early in the twelfth century.

Relics Found.

PREHISTORIC.

A flint horse-shoe scraper of Bronze Age type, and one flint flake showing signs of use, both on the site of the Co-operative Stores.

POTTERY.

Roman.- A few fragments on the old ground level of the Co-operative Stores area. Much worn in every case. One piece of provincial Samian ware, one rim and pieces of the body of an urn, a grey Silchester ware vessel.

Saxon.- From the bottom of ditch. Thin, dark grey ware, polished surface, one fragment shows trace of spiral ornament. Portions of body of large vessel and base of a smaller one.

Mediaeval.- Twelfth to sixteenth century levels provided a large range of wares partially glazed externally with green, yellow and purple slips. The paste is extremely hard, almost metallic, and the whole are of continental origin, believed to be German. Chiefly cooking vessels, jugs and tygs and all incomplete. I saw in 1928 exactly similar fragments of several of these wares in south Sweden amongst material excavated from an early mediaeval site, and which Scandinavian archaeologists considered were imported from north Germany.

Late sixteenth to end of seventeenth century levels yielded the first fragments of possibly English manufacture. These are of black and dark brown glazed ware and include a goblet and numerous shallow porringers having three small handles. Slip-ware of Staffordshire and Midhope types were present in the seventeenth to nineteenth century levels.

LEATHER.

Shoes.- Fourteenth to sixteenth century levels yielded soles of shoes having extremely pointed toes, also three complete shoes, one that of a lady and Tudor in type, the toe terminating in a point resembling a shoe lace. Thongs and fastenings were present in each case. The sole of a child's shoe from this level closely resembles a modern child's sandal in shape. The seventeenth century levels yielded broad, round toed soles, of the Cromwellian "square-toe" type (Fig. 9).

Clay Pipes.- These occurred first in the Elizabethan levels and were extremely small, increasing in size gradually until forms resembling modern pipes appeared in the eighteenth century levels. One seventeenth century pipe is of ornamental brown terra-cotta, the remainder of white pipe-clay (Fig. 15).

Pins.- Pins, of gold, with heads of coiled wire and also solid bead heads, were found in the fourteenth and fifteenth century levels and range in size from 1½ to 5 inches long. All are of drawn wire. It was a curious fact that objects of brass found in the black sludge were untarnished and in appearance resembled gold, for which, until tested, the material was at first taken (Fig. 16).

Coins.- Mr. I. W. Baggaley, Curator of the Weston Park Museum, has identified the following :

1 Long-cross Silver Penny of Henry III.

1 Copper Farthing of Charles II.

1 Irish Halfpenny of James II dated 1686.

1 Halfpenny of William III dated 1698.

1 do. George I (date worn).

1 do. George II (date worn).

2 Pennies George III dated 1797.

1 Penny Token, payable at Bilston, 1811.

The Keeper, Department of Coins, British Museum, has identified an extremely thin coin, 5/8 inch in diameter, as a Farthing of Charles I which is rather a rare coin. He also identifies a series of 12 coin-like objects, of brass, each 1 inch in diameter, as sixteenth century counters. Eight of these are inscribed in Tudor lettering "Ave Maria Gracia Plena," with the abacus in the centre. On the reverse are emblems of the Apostles, or a fleur-de-lys design. The legend on the remainder is meaningless.

PLATE 1.

(1) Key, of block tin. Probably the key of one of the principal apartments. Length 5¾ inches, fourteenth century.

(2) Fourteenth century key, of iron.

(3) Sixteenth century key of hollow barrel type, iron.

(4) Miniature horse shoe, in lead, probably a charm.

(5) Strap buckle, of brass, with prongs for attachment to the leather.

The knives illustrated have been examined by Mr. J. B. Himsworth, who describes them as follows :-

(6) A three-pin Scale Tang Knife--total length 7¼ inches. No bolster, scales of wood, pins brass. The head of the pin farthest from the knife point has a silver or other white metal washer round it. Thickest part of blade is 1/7 of an inch, and is on the back opposite the choil. The steel (by a rough test) approximates to modern hardness. Total handle thickness, judging by length of pin at the head end, was originally ½ an inch. There has been a swage on the front of the blade running from the point for 2½ inches up the back edge.

(7) A Whittle Tang blade 5 15/16 inches in total length. Blade 4 inches from choil to point. Original length about 6½ inches. This knife would have a "knocked on" handle. Probably made of the same strength steel as No. 6. Whittle Tang blades are still made in Sheffield, but cut out of steel sheet by machinery. Nos. 6, 7, 11 and 12 would be forged by hand out of square or oblong section rods.

(8) In workmanship the most interesting. The total length is 4 inches, original total length about 7 inches. Blade, bolster and tang all forged out of one solid piece of steel. The greatest diameter of the bolster, which is a flattish octagon in section, is 3/8 of an inch from back to front and 5/16 of an inch across. The faces of the octagon are perfectly squared and then ornately chased with punches. A double line at either end of the bolster forms a border. On each front and back square or face is a pattern composed of two scrolls with leaf terminals. Four facets, viz., one on each side of the centre facet on front and back, are chased with four deep longitudinal oval punchings, alternating with three delicate punch impressions across the width of the face. Each of these four squares has been lined round with a tracing punch. The whole of the bolster has been heavily gilded and there are remains of gold on all the flat surfaces. The flat faces in a line with the back and front edges have no decoration excepting a narrow traced line.

(9) One blade or side of a pair of shear-shaped scissors, 5 7/8 inches long. A delicate, shapely piece of forging. The blade is flat with a bevel on the edge 1/12 of an inch wide; the back of the blade about I/12 inch thick. Round the outside of the gothic-shaped bows runs a sharp ridge making the full strength 1/12 of an inch. The bow is ¼ of an inch wide, and shank round in section, about 1/12 of an inch thick. A slight "set" or bend from end to end gives a rise of ¼ of an inch in the centre if laid horizontally.

(10) Present length 4¼ inches. Bolster only 1 7/8 inches. Same as No. 8, forged all in one piece. The bolster is a rather oval octagon in section with a slight flat following the line of back and edge. There has been no attempt at decoration. Diameter of bolster at a point nearest the handle, from back to the front cutting edge, 7/16 of an inch. The shorter diameter at this point, 5/16 of an inch.

(11) A Whittle Tang blade 7½ inches total length. Original length about 8 inches. Strongest part of the back 5/16 of an inch.

(12) Total length 13 inches, greatest width 1½ inches, strongest part of the back 1/7 of an inch. For its size it is a light thin blade, probably for carving. Only 1 inch of tang.

From their position in the ditch the dating of these knives, &c., appears to be (11) fourteenth century; (7) fifteenth century; (6) and (9) sixteenth century; (8), (10) and (12) seventeenth century or late sixteenth century.

PLATE ll.

(1) A wooden playing "card" representing the King of Diamonds and one of the most interesting relics found. The diamond is inlaid in brass and the letter "K" is indicated by means of brass pins. A crucifix has been faintly scratched upon the diamond. Found in the upper level of ditch and cannot be later than the demolition period. Playing cards were not introduced into England before the reign of James I, though well known upon the continent, and this specimen is one of the earliest known in this country. Reference to the British Museum failed to trace any parallel or record of a wooden "card."

Mr. T. R. Ellin, who examined the object, expressed the opinion that it was the work of a local cutler. This opinion was confirmed as the outcome of a lecture given to the boys of the Park Council School, at which a picture of the "card" was shown; shortly afterwards a pupil brought to his master, Mr. H. Challiner, one or two similar ones which had belonged to his grandfather. These were of more finished workmanship but obviously Fig. (1) is ancestral to them. A specimen is illustrated (2).

The remainder of the articles figured are of sixteenth - seventeenth century date and all from the upper levels of the ditch, lower than the demolition debris.

(3) An exquisitely carved shell cameo from a ring. On the back "Ivy" has been faintly scratched, in writing.

(4) Crucifix of French type, The cross of ebony, enclosed in a brass case, the edges of which outline the cross. Figure of brass, body and legs well modelled, and the head rather worn. Scroll at head, skull and cross-bones at foot.

(5) A brooch front in gold, with repouss interlacing pattern and probably jewelled in centre.

(6) to (10) Buttons, one of which is ornamented, the remainder plain. Shanks are of circular metal and soldered on. Probably livery buttons. Mr. F. Bradbury, F.S.A., has examined these buttons and reports that (7) and (8), probably a pair, are of sterling silver and were probably attached to the coat of an officer or gentleman of rank. (10) is also of sterling silver and was perhaps a waistcoat button. He dates these as having been produced about the middle of the seventeenth century. (6) and (9) are of bronze (6) being typlical of the Cromwellian period.

PLATE lll.

All from the lower levels of the ditch, thirteenth to fifteenth century.

(1) Iron spear. A small light type. The blade is perforated near the base on each side. Socket short and continued front and back in straps and rivetted to the shaft with one or more rivets. Probably a spear head surmounting a banner shaft.

(2) Flat oval object of wood, with perforation, and believed to be a saddler's palm-board.

(3) Belt buckle, of brass, with granulated surface.

(4) Iron object, use uncertain, probably cheek piece of a horse's bit.

(5) Wooden "peggy," made from a round branch and ends shaped.

(6) Button, ornamented, of bronze.

(7) Pins, of drawn gold, heads formed of coiled wire.

(8) Upper portion of whetstone of fine grain, perforated. Section square.

(9) Hemispherical stone implement of uncertain use.

(10) Half of shear style scissor. Mr. J. B. Himsworth describes this object as follows: Total length 6 3/8 inches, width of blade above shank 7/16 inch. Shank round in section, bow when complete probably round and pyramidal in section. Cleaning until the bright steel appeared yielded no trace of iron welding with a steel facing for the cutting edge, as it said was the practice in this period. Rough tests showed steel of same hardness all over blade. In general shape, lightness with strength and proportions, Plate I (9) and Plate III (10) compare favourably with best modern scissors.

I desire to thank the Directors and Mr. F. Forster, the Secretary, of the Brightside & Carbrook Co-operative Society for their permission to watch the excavations and for the public spirit they displayed in preserving the ruins; also Mr. W. G. Davies, F.R.I.B.A., the City Architect, and Mr. W. P. Rylatt of his department, for assistance given and privileges accorded in relation to the excavations on the site of Castle Hill Market, also to the Chairman and the Markets Committee for protecting and preserving the ruins there.

Thanks for valuable assistance and help in many ways are expressed to the clerks of works, Mr. Gilbert and the late Mr. Loughran, together with the architect and contractors, also to Mr. ].B.Himsworth for his help in supervizing the work and during the preparation of this report; Mr. Senior, of the Improvement Surveyor's department, for his services with the camera and permission to reproduce his photographs; Mr. ]. W. Baggaley and Mr. F. Bradbury, F.S.A., for examining specimens; Mr. F. E. Pearce Edwards, F.S.A., for assistance; Mr. ]. R. Wigfull, F.S.A., for much valuable advice and help throug out, and to Sir William E. Hart, Alderman J. G. Graves, the Committee of the Hunter Archaeological Society, and all those friends who assisted in the efforts made for the permanent preservation of the castle remains.

Superscript notes

1. Copy in the Reference Llibrary, Sheffield. For extracts see C. Drury's "Sheaf of Essays by a Sheffield Antiquary", and T.Winder's "T'Heft and Blades ov Shevvield."

2. For details refer to Hunter's History of Hallamshire Gatty's edition pp144-146.

3. Ditto p.141

4. Sheffield Miscellany, "Funeral of Francis Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, 1560" by Charles Drury, p.134.

5. Similar paving was found when excavating for the "Bull and Mouth".

6. Established 1720. See "Midhope Potteries" by Joseph Kenworthy.

7. The material was tipped on the site of the abbatoirs in Cricket Inn Road

8. See Drury's Sheaf of Essays "Sheffield Castle - Early History".

9. Probably "file gilding" process.

10. The word "whittle" is used as understood in the cutlery trade today, not necessarily meaning the same kind of knife that Chaucer speaks of. His might be any kind of knife made at that time.

[Bayleaf]

Armstrong Report

Plan 1

Plan 2

Plan 3

[Bayleaf]

Armstrong Report

Plates

1

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

[Bayleaf]

Armstrong Report

Figs.

[Guest Trefcon]

Excellent post Peter,

I was talking to my mate' Albert Jackson' in the Local Studies yesterday, i asked him what was the next book he was writing, he replied 'Sheffield Casttle'! He just needs to come here! Also i went in Sheffield Scene after and there was a new book on the Castle by a David Saville. You might as well put yer' pen away 'Albert' !!

Dean.

[RichardB]

Perfect; speechless.

[Guest carlie167]

Stupendous!!! Thank you.

[syrup]

Just amazing, nice find, well done.

I have found this on going project should look good.

http://arcus.group.shef.ac.uk/sheff_castle.php?p=cs

[RichardB]

The Following report first appeared in the Transactions of the Hunter Archaeological Society, and is reproduced here in full by kind permission of the Society.

Do you have contacts ? Sure we'd love to host more of the Hunters Archaeological Societies information. Please let us know.

Thanks for the effort.

[Bayleaf]

Do you have contacts ? Sure we'd love to host more of the Hunters Archaeological Societies information. Please let us know.

Thanks for the effort.

Funny you should ask, I'm a member, and I've just trawled through the index and found several other references to the castle I'm going to follow up. The index is downloadable as a Word file on their website

http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/hunter/publications.html

If you'd like to have a look and see what you think might be interesting, (apart from 'all of it'!) I'll look it out next time I'm in Local Studies.

They were receptive to the idea of the castle report in particular because they support the present proposals, but if there's anything else

I can always ask.

[Bayleaf]

Thanks for the edit Richard (it was you wasn't it?), but just looking through some of the changes have appeared as gobbledegook (strange symbols and such!)

[RichardB]

Thanks for the edit Richard (it was you wasn't it?), but just looking through some of the changes have appeared as gobbledegook (strange symbols and such!)

Yes it is/was me. The strange symbols and so on were why I started editing it - hope we don't have some corruption going on. My changes were bold and centres. I'll keep at it.

[RichardB]

Should be "normal service is resumed" now.

The "problem" was only with apostrophies, quotation marks and sup- and super scripts - all these were replaced by a box (presumably indicating an undisplayable character) followed by 8634 or whatever number.

So Lady's Bridge had become Lady box8634's Bridge.

Anyway, all gone now, let me know is any of these errors remain.

I've just done some bold, some centering and broken down big paragraphs into more readable chunks, all spelling ("Shevvield" indeed) has been kept.

[Guest Gramps]

Funny you should ask, I'm a member, and I've just trawled through the index and found several other references to the castle I'm going to follow up. The index is downloadable as a Word file on their website

http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/hunter/publications.html

If you'd like to have a look and see what you think might be interesting, (apart from 'all of it'!) I'll look it out next time I'm in Local Studies.

They were receptive to the idea of the castle report in particular because they support the present proposals, but if there's anything else

I can always ask.

Donning my pedant's hat for a moment that isn't really an index, - more a TOC sorted by author. There is a proper index in Local Studies on the shelf next to the HAS volumes.

I have a photocopy of the Castle excavation report and copies of several other articles on subjects that interest me, but I always feel a little guilty about copying them. I think the society could easily raise a bit of much needed cash by making reprints available at a reasonable charge - say 20 or 30 pence per page, perhaps in pdf format on a CD to customer's requirements. I'm sure I would end up buying a great deal of it.

But at least the HAS volumes are on the shelf, if you want to see anything of the old YAS or DAS publications etc. you need to order the volume up from the stacks at least a day in advance and even earlier if it's at an off-site store.

Special characters always seem to present problems in HTML especially if you're pasting in from a plain text editor, - I've found something like Metapad does the job quite well as it allows you to use True-Type fonts instead of the fixed system fonts used by Notepad. For superscript the best method seem to be to put footnote markers in square brackets.

[Bayleaf]

Donning my pedant's hat for a moment that isn't really an index, - more a TOC sorted by author. There is a proper index in Local Studies on the shelf next to the HAS volumes.

I have a photocopy of the Castle excavation report and copies of several other articles on subjects that interest me, but I always feel a little guilty about copying them. I think the society could easily raise a bit of much needed cash by making reprints available at a reasonable charge - say 20 or 30 pence per page, perhaps in pdf format on a CD to customer's requirements. I'm sure I would end up buying a great deal of it.

But at least the HAS volumes are on the shelf, if you want to see anything of the old YAS or DAS publications etc. you need to order the volume up from the stacks at least a day in advance and even earlier if it's at an off-site store.

Special characters always seem to present problems in HTML especially if you're pasting in from a plain text editor, - I've found something like Metapad does the job quite well as it allows you to use True-Type fonts instead of the fixed system fonts used by Notepad. For superscript the best method seem to be to put footnote markers in square brackets.

And I thought I was pedantic ! The suggestion is that you download it into Word and use the 'find' function to search it. Basic, but it works. ;-)

[Guest Trefcon]

Went to view what was left of the Castle today.

Apparently there is more but the remains are now out of bounds because of a build up of gas.

[Guest Gramps]

And I thought I was pedantic ! The suggestion is that you download it into Word and use the 'find' function to search it. Basic, but it works.

Was just a dig at your sig.

Of course I appreciate the value of the resource and have used it for a good while, in fact I believe I posted a link to it some months ago

But what of the other matter, article reprints ? As a member you're in a position to propose it, I doubt they would listen to an outsider.

[Bayleaf]

Was just a dig at your sig.

Of course I appreciate the value of the resource and have used it for a good while, in fact I believe I posted a link to it some months ago

But what of the other matter, article reprints ? As a member you're in a position to propose it, I doubt they would listen to an outsider.

I've taken the reprints idea on board Gramps and I'll take it forward. I think it may be a wide discussion of how to make the material in general more widely available. I would ask for patience, archaeologists move in mysterious ways, their wonders to perform! There may be problems of copyright, particularly for more recent articles. I don't know offhand whether it all belongs to the Society or whether individuals retain some rights.

I will keep you posted.

[Guest Gramps]

Thank you. I can understand the obstacles to offering reprints where back issues of the journal are still available, it was out of print matter I was thinking of and the 'antiquarian' rather than the 'archaeological'. From what I remember of the copyright issue authors usually have to surrender their rights to the publisher so this may not present too much of a problem.

Anyway- good luck with it.

[RichardB]

Funny you should ask, I'm a member, and I've just trawled through the index and found several other references to the castle I'm going to follow up. The index is downloadable as a Word file on their website

http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/hunter/publications.html

If you'd like to have a look and see what you think might be interesting, (apart from 'all of it'!) I'll look it out next time I'm in Local Studies.

They were receptive to the idea of the castle report in particular because they support the present proposals, but if there's anything else

I can always ask.

Obviously the answer is "All of it", but in view of HAS support and hopefully, increased local interest in the not too distant future keep the articles Castle-related ...

Author, Area, Title, Volume and Page

Garfitt, G A Sheffield The Castle Hill 1 187

Himsworth J B Sheffield Gabriel Hemsworth (or Himsworth) (Sheffield Castle 1644) and his family in Yorkshire 6 310

(1644 sounds pretty close to the end of the Castle)

Notes & Queries Sheffield Splendour of Sheffield Castle 4 188

(Possibilities of Descriptions ?, plans ?)

Notes & Queries Sheffield Sheffield Castle 3 255

Notes & Queries Sheffield Sheffield Castle 3 349

Notes & Queries Sheffield Sheffield Castle 1 239

Walton, Mary Sheffield Sheffield Castle Manuscripts 5 269

(Notes and Queries may only be questions or letters; may be full articles, I don't know)

[RichardB]

Talbot papers, College of Arms, v. G, f. 150, et seq.

The inventory was published, along with a paper by Stephen I. Tucker, Esq, Rouge Croix, on

"The Descent of the Manor of Sheffield"

in the Archaeological Society's Journal for 1874, vol. 30, pp. 237-277. The inventory is headed thus:-

"A brief inventory [of my] Lord's household stuff [at Sheffield] Castle, and Sheffield Lodge, within the charge of John Deckinson and Wm. Kettericke, the wardroppe men and others, seen and viewed the 18th day of June, 1582".

--------------------------------------------

Reproduced exactly as I found it, no idea if anyone can locate the article, here's hoping; at least we have a detailed description of where/when it was published.

[Bayleaf]

Obviously the answer is "All of it", but in view of HAS support and hopefully, increased local interest in the not too distant future keep the articles Castle-related ...

Author, Area, Title, Volume and Page

Garfitt, G A Sheffield The Castle Hill 1 187

Himsworth J B Sheffield Gabriel Hemsworth (or Himsworth) (Sheffield Castle 1644) and his family in Yorkshire 6 310

(1644 sounds pretty close to the end of the Castle)

Notes & Queries Sheffield Splendour of Sheffield Castle 4 188

(Possibilities of Descriptions ?, plans ?)

Notes & Queries Sheffield Sheffield Castle 3 255

Notes & Queries Sheffield Sheffield Castle 3 349

Notes & Queries Sheffield Sheffield Castle 1 239

Walton, Mary Sheffield Sheffield Castle Manuscripts 5 269

(Notes and Queries may only be questions or letters; may be full articles, I don't know)

Had a look at all these this week, just snippets, most referring to the (then) forthcoming Armstrong report. One was the description of a bed, allegedly from the Castle, and the Castle Hill one didn't mention Sheffield, it was about all the places called Castle hill in South Yorks and Derbyshire.

The search continues...!

[RichardB]

Excellent that you made the offer and had a look.

Have a Blue Peter style Well Done and Many Thanks from Sheffield History Badge.

(Badges, now there's an idea ...)

[Guest Trefcon]

Sheffield Castle

"I cannot hail thee, tho' thou liv'st in story,

Thy turrets and thy towers are all gone,

Little is left to indicate thy glory

But old tradition, and this little song.

Spectre of times! Where are thy relics resting ?

Where are thy battlements and lordly hall ?

Nor vestage here, nor stone with noble crest in,

Nor remnant of a buttress or a wall.

No effigy supreme, however broken.

No tottering gable in the sunlight glow,

No grey remembrance that would be a token

To take us back to ages long ago".

Sheffield poet Francis Buchanan.

[Bayleaf]

"During demolition of an old cupola furnace in the premises formerly occupied by Messrs R&J Smith Bros, numerous stones of 15th Century workmanship were discovered.

Some of the stones had formed part of traceried windows, in one a piece of old glass remained; others had been coping stones, or jamb stones of windows or doorways. One of these had an iron crook attached to it.

From an archaeological standpoint it is to be regretted that the proposal to cut a road across the site of the old castle was abandoned.[! ] Had this suggestion been carried into effect it is probable that some considerable remains would have been found, or even a complete plan of its arrangements laid bare.

The scheme adopted involves the raising of the site rather than as excavation, and so what remains of the castle will be placed still further below the surface, it may be for future generations of archaeologists to discover and explore."

Extract from Notes & Queries, Hunter Arch. Soc. Transactions Vol 1 p239