Issue 9 • February 2026
The new park at Castlegate will celebrate 1,000 years of Sheffield’s history. It is a complex project, but work on site has continued since our last update. We now have a clearer understanding of the nature and extent of the archaeology present.
Final designs that reflect these findings have taken longer than expected to secure the planning consent they need.
This process is still ongoing. We are working with heritage specialists, South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, Historic England and Friends of Sheffield Castle to move this forward.
Work on the River Sheaf culvert and the surrounding areas is progressing. The programme for these works will be reviewed to capture the impact of recent unfavourable weather over the coming weeks.
Work in ongoing to secure the extra funding needed to complete the project. We remain committed to the long term success of the scheme. Our aim is to deliver a high quality green space in the city centre that will showcase parts of the castle for the first time in centuries.
October
Last October started with the installation of low concrete retaining walls near the Rampart area, at the back of the Bowling Green. This will be the new park’s future events space.
 Low concrete retaining walls have been installed
Gabion baskets and concrete steps were also installed adjacent to the bowling green, which has started to take shape.
 Gabion baskets and concrete steps have been installed adjacent to the bowling green
Tarmac was applied to the access route to the west of the bowling green, which will provide access for vehicles during events. This will be topped up with a durable resin bonded surface.
 Aerial photo of tarmacking and gabion basket installation in October
November
The contractor Aureos laid wet cast copings to the existing wall on Castlegate (the street).
 Wet cast copings on existing Castlegate wall
Bat boxes were installed above the river Sheaf, on the wall adjacent to Exchange Place Studios.
 Bat boxes have been installed above the culvert that will be daylighted
Aureos installed gabion baskets with facing stone to the tiered walls area on the lower area of site. This area will provide informal opportunities for children to play in the new park.
Once gabions were installed, earthworks were built up behind the gabion baskets.
 Gabion baskets on the lower area of site
Finally, there was ducting completed for utilities to the access route near Castlegate (the street). During the excavation, a stone engraved with JB 1904 written on it was found. We will aim to reuse this somewhere in the park!
 A stone engraved with JB 1904 was found during excavation for the ducting work
December
The swale feature adjacent to a retaining wall on the events space was completed. This was built using reclaimed SCC granite sets. After completion, earthworks were built up in the surrounding area.
 An overhead view of the swale next to retaining wall 5
January 2026
Tarmac was applied for the access route on the Rampart Vista to north of Bowling Green, the park’s event space.
Tarmac was also applied between the lower rear rampart walls. This will be topped up with a durable resin bonded surface.
 Areas have been freshly tarmacked including the rampart vista
 Fresh tarmac between lower rear rampart walls next to a stepped area of the castlegate site
Lots will be happening over the next few weeks, including:
- Construction of lower spinal route and installation of concrete slabs for paving in front of the tiered gabion walls.
- The contractor will continue to install reclaimed granite sets to the Bowling Green border.
- Ground investigation boreholes for future plot works around Plots 1 and 2 and the Mudford’s Building will be drilled.
- Enabling works will take place to allow Aureos to work within the River Sheaf. This will include fluming works to allow them to work in the river while channelling the water around the work areas.
 The castle site from above
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 Harmony Works Live
We have welcomed hundreds of people into Canada House for the first time in decades.
Harmony Works Live kicked things off in style. The fundraising event showcased performances from some of the young people our partners work with. They collaborated to create Sheffield’s Orchestral Collective.
The group was made up of students, alumni, and staff from Sheffield Music Hub and Sheffield Music Academy.
They were joined by Concordia Voices, Sheffield Community Choir led by Janine Dyer and some very special guests - UK Steve Edwards, Jon Boden and Precious Pepala!
Social History tours have explored the different roles Canada House has played in the story of Sheffield. This ranged from a gas office with a command centre during World War II, to a nightclub in the 80s and a buffet restaurant in the 2000s.
We have also hosted students from both Sheffield Hallam University and University of Sheffield to help their learning across Photography, Architecture and Engineering courses.
We were delighted to welcome Minister for Youth Stephanie Peacock MP and Abtisam Mohammed MP on a tour of the building during a recent trip to Sheffield.
Recent awards from the JG Graves Trust and Architectural Heritage Fund bring us ever closer to being fully funded. 94% of funds have now been raised. We plan to start the major works on site later this year.
Planning for this year’s Heritage Open Days is underway. We are looking for your memories of the building, especially if you worked here!
We have interviewed Colin, who had his first job as an office clerk for the gas board back in 1944. We are looking for more people to talk to and collect their stories. If you have anything to share, please email ellie@harmonyworks.org.uk
If you would like to keep up to date with the project, sign up for our newsletter via the button below.
 Capping stones are removed from the well. CC Wessex Archaeology
Wessex Archaeology is about to explore Sheffield Castle in more detail than ever before – and they've got some pretty impressive technology to help them do it.
Earlier last year, the dig team made a brilliant discovery: a stone-lined well cut through the castle motte – the imposing earthen mound the castle was built on.
Early experiments to gauge the well's depth included dropping a plumb line down, which revealed it descends around 12 metres, with a slight lean to it.
We don't yet know exactly when it was built, but it's likely medieval, and in its day, it would have been an essential water source for everyone living in the castle, especially during a siege.
So how do you explore a 12-metre leaning well? With a drone in a cage, of course!
The team will fly a small drone down to capture hundreds of photos, which will be pieced together into a 3D model the public will one day be able to explore. Watch this space!
 Water can still be seen at the bottom of the stone-lined well. CC Wessex Archaeology
 The Friends of Sheffield Castle stand at the Heritage Fair
Friends of Sheffield Castle attended the Heritage Fair at the Millennium Gallery at the end of January.
We had over a thousand visitors to our stand, both young and old and from Sheffield and beyond.
The enthusiasm for the Castle was clear, with great hopes and expectations for the Park development.
The Friends always enjoy these interactions with the visitors. It shows not only how much knowledge is out there, but the excitement and interest for understanding and seeing more of the history of the birthplace of our City.
The Castle model was on display, along with Wessex Archaeology on the next stand. There was lots of discussion about the archaeology findings and roughly where in the castle they had been digging.
When the site eventually opens up, without a doubt there will be plenty of people wanting to come on tours.
Visit the Friends of Sheffield Castle website below to find out more.
Thursday 5 March, 6pm to 9pm. Free entry.
AI technology is quickly making a name for itself in every corner of videogame production, from world building to storytelling and beyond. But is AI a powerful tool for creativity or a threat?
From the maker of Wizard of AI, Dr Alan Warburton, comes a new artwork exploring what it means to live in a world driven by the obsession to see everything, all at once.
Join us on Thursday 5 March at the National Videogame Museum for an exclusive screening of digital artwork Image Empire.
The artwork explores the conflict between the real and the virtual. It also looks at how AI is changing the world we live in.
A panel discussion will be held after the screening. Image Empire creator Alan Warburton, curator Hannah Redler-Hawes, and guests will explore the questions, opportunities and challenges raised within the film.
They will also discuss perspectives from the cultural, games industry, and player perspectives. Audience members will also have the chance to ask questions of the panel.
There will also be plenty of time for networking and exploring the games in our gallery after the panel has finished.
Find out more and book your free ticket via the button below.
This Spring, Arts Catalyst will open the doors to their brand-new community hub and garden at Exchange Place. The hub, which is in partnership with Yorkshire Artspace, will be the home of their events and community projects.
A communal garden will also be grown alongside the space. It will be designed as a calm, green, and restful retreat in Castlegate.
These spaces will be open to our partners, audiences, and Exchange Place artists.
Arts Catalyst will be working with Sheffield-based architects Studio Polpo on the hub. They are helping to design a hub that puts environmental sustainability and accessibility at its heart. The hope is that the space will be a welcoming place to gather, create, and collaborate.
To find more about the community hub and garden, visit their website at https://artscatalyst.org/
The vision for the Sheffield Castle site is for it to become Sheffield’s newest park.
It will feature parts of the original castle and a 'Sheaf Field' with views to the opened-up River Sheaf. A high quality greenspace with an events square, reminiscent of the bowling green that occupied the site in the 1600s, is also part of the plans.
The first phase of the exciting transformation began in January 2024 and is expected to be completed in late 2026.
For site or construction specific information, please contact David Fidler (Site Manager, Aureos) David.Fidler@aureos.com
For any other information, please contact Lucia Lorente (Principal Development Officer, Sheffield City Council) Lucia.Lorente@sheffield.gov.uk
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