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What happened on the castle site: July to September

The eagerly anticipated uncovering of the River Sheaf has begun

July marked the start of Phase 2 of the castle site regeneration project, the construction of the park.

A major feature of the new park is an opened-up River Sheaf. Work on uncovering the river began in July. About a quarter of the cover (also known as the culvert) has now been removed.

The failing concrete bridge was demolished first. The first 15 metres of the culvert concrete slab was split into sections by engineers to allow for safer lifting. It was removed in August.

All the concrete and rubble that was created from the concrete bridge and culvert slab was either reused on site or recycled for further use.

The River Sheaf lid is being removed section by section

Due to the size and weight of the crane needed to remove the slabs, a crane pad was constructed for the crane to sit on. This involved testing and measuring the weight of the crane on areas of the pad to confirm it would be suitable.

Once all safety measures were in place, the eagerly anticipated daylighting could begin. This attracted attention from ITV Calendar news and, on Tuesday 27 August, they broadcast the lifting of the first slabs to viewers around the region.

Lastly, hydraulic props were installed between each rib to provide support to the walls on each side of the culvert, ensuring the stability of the structure. 

The first 15 metres of the River Sheaf culvert has been carefully removed

Elsewhere, drainage works have started on the upper level of the site. The drainage pipes that have recently been installed will eventually tie in with existing systems in the area.

New viewing windows are now in place in the barrier surrounding the site. They give visitors a better view of the regeneration as it happens.

New windows enable visitors to see the site better

Information boards featuring timescales for the project, key contacts, and the site’s history, also went up in September.

New information panels

What's coming up on the castle site: October and November

To work near a watercourse (the River Sheaf in this case), an Environment Agency (EA) permit is required.

The initial 15 metres of the river's de-culverting works in August was covered under one EA permit. A second one is now required for the remaining roof slab. This is expected to be approved in October so the de-lidding works can continue. Around 50 metres of further slab will be removed.

The removal of roof slabs will continue with the same method, and the existing arched ribs will also be removed once the roof slab has been successfully lifted out.

Some retaining walls on the upper level of the site will be constructed during October and November. An area will be left behind these retaining walls to allow for future development plots in the perimeter of the site.

Designers continue to work with archaeology experts and conservation specialists to review the existing design considering the newly found archaeology on the site.

A small extension of the archaeology investigation is going to take place in October to look at the archaeological deposits at the top (more information in the Wessex Archaeology update below).

A draft conservation and management plan for the archaeology that would be exposed is also expected in November.

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Wessex Archaeology continue to monitor castle site

Castle site tour. Image by Wessex Archaeology.

Archaeologists from Wessex Archaeology continue to closely monitor all the construction work taking place on-site to ensure there is no negative impact on the buried archaeology.

So far, they have monitored excavation for construction in the north of the site, which has been too shallow to impact archaeological remains. They will continue to do so throughout this next phase of development on-site.

In addition to this ‘watching brief’, Wessex has also been commissioned to undertake a small extension of the archaeological excavation at the top of the site (east of the proposed events space) which will take place in October. We need to understand the archaeology at this location to help with the design of paths, walls, and drainage in the new park.

Building on the huge success of the public engagement programme that took place alongside the 10-week excavation of the castle, Wessex has also hosted a series of events. This included a series of tours, talks, and family activities for the Festival of Archaeology, Heritage Open Days, Castlegate Festival, and Festival of the Mind.

Friends of Sheffield Castle delighted with recent tours

Castle site tour. Image by Wessex Archaeology.

The Friends of Sheffield Castle (FOSC) were delighted at the level of interest in the site tours that took place during Castlegate Festival last month. 320 people attended the 16 site tours, with a further 600 hopefuls on the waiting list.

The tours gave an insight into the site’s former inhabitants, including the original motte and bailey castle, the slaughterhouses, the culverts, the ‘Great Stink’, the bats, the megatron, the concrete chambers, the east and west bastion towers, the drawbridge, the castle walls, the moat, the ancient ditches, and the bowling green – to name a few!

The reconstructions and pathways through the site were also hot topics on the tours, which were led by Ashley Tuck from Wessex Archaeology.

Martin Gorman, Robert Hall, and Steve Brownlow from the FOSC and Simon Ogden from the Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust were also on hand with fascinating facts and information.

FOSC hope that the interest in the castle site will remain once the park is completed and that regular tours can take place in future. Watch this space!

Culvertcam timelapse shows daylighting of River Sheaf

Culvertcam shows the exposed River Sheaf from above

A timelapse video has captured the first daylighting of the River Sheaf.

A further 70 metres of the river is being uncovered. Castlecam, which shows progress on the rest of the castle site, will capture some of this work.

Thousands enjoyed Castlegate Festival 2024

Castlegate Festival 2024

Castlegate Festival celebrated music, arts, heritage, and all things green over the weekend of 14 and 15 September.

Over 3,000 people attended events organised by independent local organisations.

The Saturday saw live music and DJs, a skating competition on Exchange Street, the Quayside street food market at Victoria Quays, tours of the Ding Junhui Snooker Academy, and family activities at Kommune, Gallery 24, and Two & Six Micropub.

On the Sunday, Pollen Market had 40+ stalls, a mobile climbing wall and Tatakizome printing flowers’ workshop. The Sheffield Community Bike Project (which has opened its new home on King Street) offered free bike servicing, and the National Videogame Museum organised the Arcade exhibition.

The festival was funded by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Business Improvement District (BID) and the Central Local Area Committee (LAC).

For details of other city centre regeneration projects, including Fargate and Heart of the City, tap the button below.

Free city centre bus service

Sheffield Connect

If you’re looking for an easy way to travel around the city centre, why not try the free Sheffield Connect SC2 service?

The service, along with the SC1, gives you access to key locations within the city centre. This includes The Moor, Fargate, Arundel Gate, and Castlegate.

You can also connect to other public transport services at Sheffield Rail Station, Arundel Gate, and Sheffield Transport Interchange.

It’s fully electric, so there are no emissions, and being free – you can just get on board and go! The SC2 route gets you between the Heart of the City and Castlegate every 20 minutes.

For routes and timetables, visit the Travel South Yorkshire website.

Pollen's autumn markets

Pollen Market. Image by Sam McQueen

After a wonderful birthday celebration - in collaboration with Castlegate Festival - the Pollen Market team has two very cosy autumnal market dates planned.

Head down to Castlegate's Grey to Green on Sunday 20 October and Sunday 17 November for seasonal crafts, warming street food, and your usual Pollen magic!

Events at Exchange Place Studios

Simon Le Ruez

Yorkshire Artspace has some exciting events coming up at Exchange Place Studios.

Testing Ground: Simon Le Ruez

During his residency at Exchange Place Studios, artist Simon Le Ruez will create a series of evolving installations.

Through a series of public open days, visitors are welcome to visit Simon in the studio for a glimpse of his developing work and the chance to ask questions.

• Wednesday 16 October 12-4pm
• Saturday 19 October 12-4pm

No Bounds Festival 2024: Flow State

This audiovisual installation for No Bounds Festival 2024 will use 3D imaging to merge experiences, data, images, and found objects from Sheffield's rivers as they flow through the city towards the Megatron.

Entry is free.

• Friday 11 October 4-9pm
• Saturday 12 October 10am-4pm
• Sunday 13 October 10am-4pm

Half term at the National Videogame Museum

National Videogame Museum

Open every day from 26 October to 3 November, The National Videogame Museum comes to life with Plug in and Play, an exciting new programme for October half term.

Get comfy, plug in and play a range of classic and contemporary videogames exclusively available throughout the half term holiday.

You can code a mini robot, make it move, and navigate a miniature obstacle course inspired by classic games like Frogger and Mario Kart. A new suite of games, inspired by nature, will also be activated on the gallery floor.

Carousel's upcoming printmaking courses

Carousel printmaking course attendees

Carousel Print Studio is running a range of creative courses in October and November. 

From collograph to monotype, and lots more in between, you can try your hand at a variety of artistic techniques.

Carousel is a not-for-profit charity conveniently based on the ground floor of Exchange Place Studios.

In a light and welcoming environment, Carousel offers many courses in printmaking for adults and groups. They also provide specialist facilities with artist membership.

Castle site: the vision

The vision for the Sheffield Castle site is for it to become Sheffield’s newest park. It will feature parts of the original castle, a 'Sheaf Field' with views to the opened-up River Sheaf, and a high quality greenspace with an events square, reminiscent of the bowling green that occupied the site in the 1600s.

The first phase of the exciting transformation began in January and is expected to be completed in spring 2026.

For site or construction specific information, please contact David Fidler (Senior Project Manager, Keltbray) David.Fidler@keltbray.com

For any other information, please contact Lucia Lorente (Principal Development Officer, Sheffield City Council) Lucia.Lorente@sheffield.gov.uk