Issue 8 • September 2025
June
Drainage works are continuing on the site at a good pace. In June, a new surface water drainage system was installed against the existing retaining wall on Castlegate (the street).
Surface water channel drainage
The remaining sections of the original concrete rib fixings were also removed in June from the River Sheaf culvert walls.
Removing the old rib fixings
July
Works in July started with lying a tarmac basecourse along the new Rampart Vista area of the site. This area will be finished with a mid-grey coloured resin bonded gravel.
Fresh tarmac was laid in July
Cover slabs to protect the existing service chamber and waterproofing works to the hydroponic building were installed.
Significant excavation works also took place on the edge of the future events space towards the Castlegate entrance and the Sheaf Field area of the new park. This was for the ducting and concrete foundations for new gabion baskets. These baskets will be filled with rocks or other hard materials to create a stable structure.
Gabion baskets ready to be filled
August
The building of the extensive network of retaining walls continued in August. The photo below shows the completion of a retaining wall at the edge of the future events space.
Retaining wall
Important progress was made in the tiered stepped area from the events space down to the Castlegate entrance towards the Sheaf Field area of the new park.
The photo below shows the completion of the concrete foundations. The bottom left corner also shows works to the small substation kiosk on Castlegate (the street).
The new tiered stepped area is beginning to take shape
Lots will be happening over the next few weeks, including:
- The contractor will carry out extensive repair works to the existing walls within the culvert. This is in preparation for the installation of the new precast panels and steelwork beams.
- New copings will be installed along the Castlegate retaining wall.
- Ducting for future lighting will be installed to the steps and seating areas within the bowling green area upon release of planning conditions.
- Preparation of the information required for the next Listed Building Consent application (to agree treatment to the archaeological remains on display) will also be continued.
- Site tours will continue to be carried out to highlight the ongoing archaeological works.
The castle site from above
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Castlegate Festival. Photo by Rhys Belding.
The 9th edition of Castlegate Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever! It takes place on:
- Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September
- Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September
- other dates in September
The festival is a celebration of heritage as well as the rich arts, music, and market scene in Castlegate, Sheffield’s oldest quarter. It includes:
- Pollen and Quayside Markets
- Exchange St independent music venues
- Harmony Works
- Arts Catalyst and S1 Artspace
- SADACCA
Mortar samples from the castle site
Anyone for a takeaway? Take a look… all is not what it seems.
These are mortar samples taken from the remains of over 800 years of construction on the site of Sheffield Castle.
Using scientific analysis, stone conservation expert Liz Laycock is determining what materials were used by the builders of the past. This is vital to conserving and repairing these remains for future generations. Some of these samples date to the earliest Norman stone castle.
Artist impression of Castle Street
We're making more space for people in our city centre streets. And we’ll soon be asking for your feedback on proposals for improvements to Castle Street.
Our Connecting Sheffield: Castle Street project will not only provide better access for people travelling to the new castle park site by bus, on foot, or by bike - it will help to fill a gap in the city centre cycle network too.
We're also improving the area for bus passengers, introducing new pedestrian crossings, and moving bus stops for a better, safer experience.
The project will make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists as they will have their own space on the street, away from traffic. Improving crossings will make sure people can get to where they need to be more safely too.
We know from our existing Grey to Green projects, and previous work in the Peace Gardens, that streets which are walking, wheeling, and cycling friendly are more prosperous - and that people tend to stay longer in places that are more attractive. We want to bring these benefits to more places in the city centre, and we’ll be in touch again when the consultation is open.
3D model of Sheffield Castle
3D model of Sheffield Castle
The Friends of Sheffield Castle (FOSC) are very grateful to Sheffield University for the permanent loan of the 3D castle. This was built by Lucas Bax and colleagues from local business Human VR based at Park Hill and was created for this year’s Festival of the Mind. This shows the inner ward of the castle as it would have looked around the 16th Century. FOSC hope to have it on display at future public events.
Dating proves Norman origins of first castle
Wessex Archaeology have now confirmed the dating of the motte of the first built castle in Sheffield. This remarkable moment validates all the work on the castle site in recent years. These finds are, to a degree, re-writing the history of the castle site. Once Wessex produce their final report on the excavations, we will understand much more about Sheffield’s first castle as well as the second stone built one.
Castle site tours
FOSC, Wessex Archaeology, and the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust look forward to showcasing the castle site on 13th and 14th September. The tours are part of Heritage Open Days and Castlegate Festival.
The River Sheaf project has been endorsed by Robert McFarland, respected nature researcher and author of the best-selling book ‘Is a River Alive?’.
In a recent BBC Radio 4 programme with Amol Rajan about the global state of rivers, Robert said the project is an inspiring example of what should be done to kickstart the regeneration of our urban rivers.
Castlefields Viaduct highline park
Members of the Castlegate Partnership made a study visit to Manchester’s Castlefields Quarter recently. They wanted to see what could be learned from the experience of an area with many similarities to Castlegate.
Castlefields is the foundation site of the city in the form of a Roman fort. It is also the meeting place of several waterways and the scene of many years of regeneration initiatives.
The Partnership members were welcomed by the voluntary Castlefields Forum as well as officers of the National Trust. They have a major project there creating a new ‘highline’ park on the magnificent Castlefield Viaduct.
If you would like to read the full report, please contact Simon Ogden at simonogden43@gmail.com
A day-long event featuring Castlegate took place at the Festival of Debate in April. It considered the successes and lessons learnt from Sheffield’s Heart of the City project. Attendees then discussed how this might inform the regeneration of Castlegate.
The event was organised by the Sheffield Society of Architects and Civic Trust. It was supported by the Friends of Sheffield Castle and the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust.
More than 60 people attended. They listened to expert presentations and took part in open group discussions.
Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central
A Member of Parliament is elected to be the voice of their constituents, so Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, wants to hear from you.
She is holding several events across Sheffield Central to give you the chance to have a voice in the national conversation.
Do financial worries keep you up at night? Are you concerned about your child’s education? Do you follow the news about the climate crisis?
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