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Greenstructure and
Urban Planning - Case Study - Sheffield, UK - Historic parks
and Gardens |
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Sheffield's Historic Parks and Gardens The following list of parks and gardens indicates all those that have so far been identified. Many are gardens in private grounds and it is very difficult if not impossible under present legislation to protect these, as the manner in which the private landowner maintains the garden is crucial to its survival. In those parts of the city which have conservation status it is at least possible to preserve most of the larger trees, if not the garden itself. It is an unfortunate fact that many of the historic gardens listed below have been and are the subject of development during this phase when the City is densifying - the result is that in the past 5 years many of the gardens have been further damaged, as new apartment blocks, school buildings or hospital buildings have been errected in their grounds. The planning system in Britain encourages planners and councillors to protect tree cover as densification and redevelopment take place. So when any of the sites here identified as of some importance to theCity are the subject of a development proposal, it is normal for the planners to insist on layouts which preserve the major trees. This many seem at first to be an excellent solution but long-term studies by Dr. O.L. Gilbert, a Sheffield ecologist, have shown that such trees deteriorate fast and often require felling within a decade. There are instances of housing being built at present under such planning permission, which has aimed to preserve the local treescape, where all the roots on one side are disturbed and in addition because many of such sites in Sheffield are on a slope the land is also cut away below the trees - these trees have no hope of survival as healthy specimens and yet it is doubtful that the developers would have received planning permission if they had indicated from the start that the trees would be removed. The impact of densification on the urban landscape of the area to the west of the City centre, which is recognised as of uniquely high quality in Britain and was laid out in the late 19th century, is only gradually becoming obvious. The deterioration is likely to be exacerbated by the new Government directives on density of development. These insist that residential development must be at 39 dwellings per hectare or above. In these circumstances the local authority's ability to stem the deterioration of the special local townscapes that exist within and especially to the west of the City, have been severely curtailed. The urban landscapes here are as much a result of the densely vegetated gardens as of the presence of so many large old stone buildings and the massive stone walls which line the roads - it is a privately owned and maintained landscape and greenspace which costs the City nothing and yet contributes so immensely to the image of the City as a whole. Note: this same situation also applies to many other old gardens which are of less historic interest but nonetheless important components of the city's landscape Figure 1 - Sheffield - diagram of the location of gardens of historic interest or with SSSi (Site of Scientific Interest) status
name acquisition
date ownership classification suggested
city heritage catagory** national
heritage category "Weston
Park" "1875" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important National
register "Firth
Park" "1875" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important "Porter Valley
Parks" "1885" Sheffield
City "city_valley_park,arc" most
important Recommended for
National register "Norfolk
Park" "1848" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important National
register "Graves
Park" "1925" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important "Ecclesall
Woods" "1927" Sheffield
City "ancient_wood," most
important "Whirlow Brook
Park" "1946" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important "Sheffield
Botanical" "1951" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important National
register "Whinfell
Quarry Gard" "1968" Sheffield
City "city_park" most
important Recommended for
National register "The General
Cemetery" "1977" Sheffield
City "dist_park" most
important Recommended for
National register "Meersbrook
Park" "1886" Sheffield
City "dist_park" important "Hillsborough
Park" "1890" Sheffield
City "dist_park" important "Abbeyfield
Park" "1909" Sheffield
City "local_park" important "Glen Howe
Park" "1917" Sheffield
City "dist_park_woodland" important "Monument
Grounds- Ch" "1929" Sheffield
City "city_monum" important "Blacka
Moor" "1933" Sheffield
City "city_openland
--archaeology" important "Rivelin
Valley" "1934" Sheffield
City "city_valley_park-archaeology
" important Site of special
scientific interest,IRS "Loxley and
Wadsey " "1913" Sheffield
City "city_openland-woods," important Site of special
scientific interest "Wincobank" Sheffield
City "dist_openland,-woods-archaeology" important
archaeology "Beauchief
Gardens" "1935" Sheffield
City "hist_gdn" "historic_public_garden" "Chelsea
Park" "1925" Sheffield
City "hist_park" "hist_pub_park" "Ashdell
House" private "hist_gdn" "hist_private_garden" "Barnes
Hall" private "hist_gdn" "19th C
parkland " "Beauchief
Hall" Sheffield
City "17th C
parkland, historic garden" "4,Cavendish
Rd" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Clifford
House" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Cooke &
Beard Homes" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Crewe Flats,
Oakholm" University "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Dore Moor
House" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "John Eaton's
Almshouse" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Elmwood" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "The
Glen" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Middlewood
Hosp." private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" Site of special
scientific interest "Moorwinstow" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Mylnhurst
School" school "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Notre Dame
School" school "hist
gdn" "historic
garden" "Oakes
Park" private "hist_park" "historic
garden" "Parkhead
Hall" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Queens
Tower" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Shrewsbury
Hospital" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Springleigh" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Kenwood
House" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Tapton
Court" University "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Thornbury
Hospital" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "The
Towers" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Whirlow
Court" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Woodland View
Almsho" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" "Woolfindin
Almshouse" private "hist_gdn" "historic
garden" ** Note this
category has no planning status and is only a
subjective assessment by researchers as to the
relative merits . This
list is not complete or in any way adopted by the
City for planning purposes. It is only intended to
indicate the main sites that should be considered
as plans progress - it has no official status. The
City initiated the research project in the mid
1990s and the detailed data with regard to all the
sites is held in the department with responsibility
for parks and greenspace. Several of the sites
identified as of historic interest have since been
built over as the city responds to the government's
policies on densification and developers
demands. The Sheffield Botanical Gardens (constructed 1834-36) and Norfolk Heritage Park (handed to the city in 1845 are the two oldest major parks in Sheffield - they have both undergone extensive restoration in recent years with the aid of funds from the National Lottery Scheme and very large sums raised locally. Additional information about some other Sheffield historic places with gardens Beauchief Abbey This is the rermains of a 12th century Abbey. It is set in charming, secluded surroundings within the City boundary. Built into the tower is a lovely 17th century chapel which is sure to delight! Upper Chapel - Norfolk Street Beautiful Unitarian chapel dating back 300 years, right in the heart of the City centre. The stained glass windows by pre-Raphaelite artist, Henry Holiday, are of international importance. The small tranquil Sanctuary Gardens are the perfect place for a peaceful break in the City centre. Stop and admire the bronze statues by Sheffield sculptor, George Fullard. Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul The City centre's only mediaeval building. Listed Grade 1, this working cathedral contains architecture from the 15th to the 20th century, housing magnificent Tudor memorials and striking stained glass. Its old graveyard is now open to the public and has become a focal point greenspace within the City centre.
Birley Spa Birley Spa is a hidden historic and architectural gem in a tiny secluded ravine. It is the only remaining Victorian Spa in the north of England.
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet An authentic 18th century scythe works with waterwheels and tilt hammers. The house, workshops, crucible steel furnace, water wheels, machinery and dam create a charming and unique atmosphere of what life was once like. And the dam above it creates a green oasis.
All photographs are © Anne R. Beer, 2003 but users are free to download and use as they wish, with the proviso that the copyright is always acknowledged. Students may use the text as they wish provided they again acknowledge the sources of the text. To view the Case Studies
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