Sheffield Castle

Sheffield City Council has appointed Crosby Granger Architects to join the wider design team for the Castle Site, a key part of the city’s historic centre.

Crosby Granger Architects will produce a suite of heritage documents to support the eventual discharge of planning conditions and a new Listed Building Consent (LBC) application. The historic Castle Site, originally the heart of Sheffield and home to Sheffield Castle (demolished in 1648–49), was later built over as the town expanded. In the 20th century, the area became the site of the Castle Markets, which have since been demolished. Once a thriving commercial hub, the Castle Site has lost its identity and purpose.

This project aims to re-establish the Castle Site as a pivotal part of the city centre. Plans include partially de-culverting the River Sheaf, creating green spaces and public realms, and preparing the land for future development. Temporary or ‘meanwhile uses’ will activate plots and promote healthy lifestyles.

Crosby Granger Architects will provide technical advice and specifications for works to the listed structures required for the LBC application. They will also support the design team in developing proposals and specifications, ensuring that conservation-sensitive practices guide the development. Their work includes producing key heritage documents—a Heritage Statement (HS), Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), and Conservation Management Plan (CMP)—and offering conservation-architect support through RIBA Stage 3.

The Sheffield Castle site is located at the confluence of the River Don and River Sheaf, about half a kilometr northeast of Sheffield city centre in an area known as Castlegate. Two castles were built on the site: the first, a motte-and-bailey structure, likely constructed by William de Lovetot in the early-to-mid 12th century, was destroyed during the Second Barons’ War in 1266. In 1270, Thomas de Furnival obtained a Royal Charter to construct a substantial masonry castle with a moat and ramparts. This castle stood for nearly 400 years before falling to Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. It was demolished in 1649.

Little remains of de Furnival’s castle today, with small sections first identified during archaeological investigations in the late 1920s.

The Castle Site is of significant importance to Sheffield City Centre and has been the focus of extensive stakeholder engagement. Sheffield City Council has consulted with numerous groups, including the Environment Agency, Don Catchment Rivers Trust, Wild Trout Trust, Blue Loop Trust, Trout in the Town, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Sheffield Waterways Strategy Group, Sheffield River Stewardship Company, Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA), the University of Sheffield, Friends of the Old Town Hall, and Friends of Sheffield Castle, among others.