Sheffield Castle

[Bayleaf]

Sheffeild Mannor

DESMENES belonging to the Castle

Particulars

Imprimis ye scite of ye Mannor or Mansion house called Sheffeild Castle being fairely built with stone & very spacious containeth divers buildings and Lodgings about an Inward Court yard & all offices thereto beonging having a Great Ditch about ye same ye Great River of Doun lying on ye north parte thereof & ye Lesser River called ye Little Sheath on ye East parte thereof having on ye South an outward Court Yard or fould builded round with diverse houses of office as an armory a Granary, Barnes Stables & divers Lodgeings all containeing by measure 4 acres---00 roods--- 30 and two fifths perches.

Item Three orchards thereto adjoyneing ye first whereof is compassed about with a stone Wall & lyeth Betweene ye River called ye Little Sheath on ye West & ye little Parke on ye East and containeth 5 acres---1 rood and half a perche.

Item ye 2nd Orchard called ye Nursery & lyeth next ye aforesaid Orchard towards ye South & a parcel of Ground called ye Hopyard towards ye North and cont: 1 acre---1 rood and 25 and 7 tenths perches.

Item ye Third Orchard Lyeth Betweene ye Little Parke towards ye East and ye Hopyard aforesaid on ye West and abutteth on ye Nursery towards ye South West and cont: 6 acres---00 roods—24 and 2 fifths perches.

Item a piece of Land called ye Hopyard lying betweene ye 2 Last Orchards towards ye East and ye River of Doun towards ye West and cont:

1 acre--- 00 roods--- 26 and 9 tenths perches.

Item ye Yard called ye Cockpitt Yard lying betweene ye Last piece in parte & ye Nursery in parte towards ye East & ye River of Doun North and cont:

0 acres--- 1 rood and 28 and 9 tenths perches.

Sume Totall of ye Lands aforesaid which are in ye occupacon of ye Keeper of ye Castle is 18 acres---3 roods--- 16 and 4 fifth perches.

[dunsbyowl1867]

These following illustrations were used by my Aunt in her dissertation for her BA at Sheff Uni in Social History " The Township of Sheffield in the late 14th & 15 centuries" they are from "Armstrong A.L. "Sheffield Castle" THAS (Hunter Arch Soc) p1 1930 7-27. Anyone seen or got a copy?

[dunsbyowl1867]

"Armstrong A.L. "Sheffield Castle" THAS (Hunter Arch Soc) p1 1930 7-27"

[dunsbyowl1867]

"Armstrong A.L. "Sheffield Castle" THAS (Hunter Arch Soc) p1 1930 7-27"

[dunsbyowl1867]

Nat Sure who drew this? Not from Armstrong

[RichardB]

All of them very interesting and contributing much to our knowledge.

Thank You.

[Bayleaf]

Those of us lucky enough to dwell in this fair city might be interested to know that early in the New Year the museum will be staging a mediaeval exhibition, and ARCUS are building a model of the castle based on all currently available information which it is hoped will form part of the exhibition. Watch this space!

[Bayleaf]

Sheffield Castle

A report in 2002 concluded that although no plan or drawing of the castle has survived, some comments could be made based on archaeological evidence.

The castle appears to have been roughly rectangular. It was bounded on the north by the River Don, and on the other three sides by a moat. The entrance was in the south-east corner, where a drawbridge crossed the moat.

On the north side at least three buildings have been identified. One large building or range of buildings in the north-east corner formed a very substantial structure with cellars, buttresses on the front, glazed windows and tiled floors.

It would appear that there were large stone buildings in the north-west and north-east corners, perhaps with small buildings running along the back wall between them.

Armstrong reported courtyard material in several pile pits under the castle market, and a cobbled surface was found outside the building on the upper loading bay.

The internal layout of the castle appears to have had a number of buildings built against the exterior walls, with an open courtyard in the middle.

Stone remains of a building and courtyard were identified in the area of the 1920’s Market Hall. The present building was built at a higher level than the identified stonework and being single storey, is unlikely to have extensive foundations, so there is a good chance that remains of the courtyard and adjoining buildings will have survived under the present building.

Remains of stone buildings, a courtyard surface and earlier pits have been identified on the upper loading bay. It is likely that similar remains have survived well across the area, except where htere has been damage from later building work, mainly for the spiral ramp, the retaining wall and shop cellars at the western end of the loading bay.

The moat has been identified in the area of the lower loading bay, and further well preserved remains of the moat and undisturbed deposits within it can be expected.. Evidence for activity within the moat enclosure may survive, evidence for activity outside may also survive in certain areas, where there has been little 20th century development.

In the area of the 1950’s market extension, stone remains of the castle gateway and drawbridge were identified in the 1920’s and 1950’s. As this area has a basement at a lower level than the market hall the survival of features originally at a higher level will have been affected. However, remains of the gatehouse and associated towers and of the moat can still be expected in some areas.

No archaeological work appears to have been undertaken along Waingate. The buildings have basement levels at a lower level than the market hall and the survival of features originally at a higher level will have been affected. However, remains of the moat are still expected in places.