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Lots of progress has been made on the castle site since our last update in November.
Most notably, in December, the final pieces of the River Sheaf slab were cut and lifted off.
Aerial view of the River Sheaf
A waler (a type of horizontal beam that is bolted to a larger upright structure to help support it) was installed on each side of the wall. A prop was then installed between them to support the wall on either side.
Midway through December, all the slabs had been lifted out of the culvert and all the props had been installed.
With the crane no longer needed, it was dismantled and taken away, leaving space for other works to take place on the lower plateau.
Prop being lifted into the culvert ahead of it being installed
Elsewhere on site, a doorway was drilled and cut out to give easy access to the lower chamber (gatehouse). This has allowed archaeologists to get inside and inspect.
The rest of the archaeology on site needed to be protected due to bad weather over Christmas. The team put a cover over all the remains to keep them safe.
Cover protecting the archaeology
The New Year began with excavation works for the future services substation kiosk near Castlegate (the street) and preparation for its concrete base.
A crash deck was also installed inside the lower chamber (gatehouse) to allow for future work to take place inside.
On the upper plateau (the future events space) near the Waingate entrance, ducting work began.This included building trenches and installing water pipes as well as BT and electricity ducting. This will allow for future service connections to the electricity pillars in the event space and development plots.
As the crane was no longer on the lower plateau, the foul drainage could also be continued. The drainage run now carries on from where it left off next to the kiosk location and finishes just before it reaches the culvert wall.
Back at the River Sheaf end, a deep excavation began at the end of the culvert wall. This made space for concrete to be poured in to reinforce the wall.
Towards the end of January, the ribs began to be taken out of the culvert.
River Sheaf ribs have been dismantled
The first week of February saw trench boxes installed in the excavation next to the culvert wall and the concrete was poured. This offers extra support not only to the culvert wall but also Castlegate (the street).
Fresh concrete in the new trench box
Final work for this period saw further progress being made on the ducting services on the upper plateau. Seven BT chamber bases were installed and cast in with concrete. All the BT ducting has now been completed and linked up to the first six manhole chambers on the upper plateau. The water ducting has also been fully installed.
The next two months will see the construction of retaining wall 6 by the upper chamber.
The water in the culvert will also be pumped out and dammed to allow for the team to work safely inside the culvert.
The lid will be taken off the lower chamber (gatehouse) to allow for future works to happen in it.
Drainage works on the site will continue.
Once the outcome of the first Listed Building Consent application is known in late April/early May, enabling works related to the route through the site will also begin.
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Civil War stake undergoes conservation by timber specialist, Steve, from York Archaeology (c) Wessex Archaeology.
Archaeologists from Wessex Archaeology have discovered four civil war stakes at the Sheffield Castle site.
This is the first time wooden stakes like these – used to defend the castle in the 17th century – have ever been found.
Current Archaeology award.
Sheffield City Council, along with Wessex Archaeology, have won the Current Archaeology Magazine Award for Rescue Project of the Year! Thank you to everyone who voted.
A tour of the castle site.
Castle site contractors Aureos (formerly Keltbray Infrastructure Services) have been engaging with local schools, colleges, and employment initiatives.
The aim is to help local people understand the wide and varied pathways into the world of construction.
If you are a community group, school, or another organisation (particularly in Castlegate) that would like to become involved in the castle scheme, please contact Stuart Culley at Stuart.Culley@KeltbrayInfrastructureServices.com
For details of other city centre regeneration projects, including Fargate and Heart of the City, tap the button below.
Norfolk Market Hall.
Join town planner and local historian Simon Ogden as he shares the many histories of the Castlegate Markets.
Simon will trace this rich and restless history using plans and pictures. He will explain why the markets have moved and changed so many times in the last 700 years and what might happen to some of their historic sites next.
The event is free but donations to the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust are welcome.
When: Tuesday 29 April 1pm to 1.45pm.
Where: The Community Room at Department (previously known as Kommune), Castle House, Angel Street, Sheffield, S3 8LS.
Pollen Market. Image by Sam McQueen.
Pollen's first market of the year will take place at its home on Grey To Green on Sunday 16 March, 10am to 4pm.
Come down to experience all the usual Pollen magic plus lots more, in collaboration with Festival of the Outdoors.
Pollen pops up at Castlegate on the third Sunday of every month from March to November.
Gallery space
Arts in the Right Place have teamed up with Food Squad to create a fun-filled day of events showcasing some of the activities taking place at Raccoon Studios.
There will be free haircuts, live music, workshops, games, spoken word, food, and much more.
It's a fantastic opportunity to see the transformation that’s taken place within the former Shoezone on the corner of Exchange Street and Haymarket, all while raising money for a good cause.
When: Saturday 29 March from 12pm.
Where: Raccoon Studios, 38 Haymarket, Sheffield, S1 2AX.
A sunny day for Quayside Market.
Quayside Market is returning to Victoria Quays on 12 and 13 April, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever.
Expect live music, bars, some of the UK's hottest street food vendors, unique artisan stalls, and local businesses.
Entry is free. The market runs every second weekend of the month between April and September.
Sheffield Castle's gatehouse.
The Friends of Sheffield Castle are holding a special night on 5 March to celebrate 12 years since their formation, and 12 months of excavations on site.
All 400 tickets have now been taken for the event, which will cover talks on the past, present, and future of Sheffield Castle’s site.
The Friends will be joined by Ashley Tuck from Wessex Archaeology who will provide a summary of what has been found during the excavations over the past year.
Committee members Dave Clarke and Robert Hall will also talk about the past and the group's future aspirations for the site.
The Friends were excited to peep inside the concrete chamber that houses the well-preserved remains of the castle gatehouse section. The chamber has been in place since the 1930s and was updated in the 50s.
Plans are to remove some of the chamber so the gatehouse can be showcased alongside other excavated remains of the castle in the new park.
Yorkshire Artspace at Exchange Place. Image by Mark Howe.
This summer, visual arts organisation and charity Arts Catalyst will relocate from The Moor to Exchange Place Studios in Castlegate. Exchange Place is one of two art studio buildings managed by Yorkshire Artspace.
The move marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two organisations. This exciting new chapter intends to foster deeper community engagement and strengthen Sheffield’s vibrant arts scene.
From September, Arts Catalyst will host their seasonal exhibitions programme (which in 2024 attracted 12,000 visitors) in the project space at Exchange Place.
The new venue features a light-filled gallery space with enhanced visibility from the street, plus level access to easily accommodate visitors with wheelchairs, pushchairs, and bikes.
Visitors explore maps with the help of Wessex Archaeology
The National Videogame Museum joined forces with Wessex Archaeology during February half term to deliver castle-themed activities to over 3,000 people. The epic quest combined history, creativity, and gaming.
The week-long activities took inspiration from the Sheffield Castle archaeological works. Locals and visitors from further afield, including travellers from London and Glasgow, discovered what’s been happening at Sheffield Castle, designed their own castles, and tried their hand at virtual archery in a Nintendo Wii crossbow training experience.
This unique celebration of Sheffield’s heritage was thoroughly enjoyed by families, history buffs, and gaming enthusiasts alike.
New Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans are being produced for Sheffield city centre and Kelham Island. Castlegate, Victoria Quays, Wicker, and other adjacent areas are being considered.
Consultants, funded by Government and Historic England, will explore the areas’ special interest and opportunities to improve people's lives through conservation and regeneration of the historic environment.
Draft appraisals will be done by April, and recommendations will be made by late spring 2025.
As the regeneration of Castlegate continues at pace, all eyes are on its future as a hub for culture, heritage, and creativity.
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 2024 and is expected to be completed in 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
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