Excavations of Sheffield Castle offer new discoveries of an industrial past

Archaeologists at the former site of Sheffield Castle have recently made exciting new discoveries about the city’s steelmaking history. Sheffield City Council has been undertaking archaeological excavations around the site of the original 12th-century castle since 2018. In April and May, archaeologists from Wessex Archeology and structural engineers Keltbray were commissioned by the city to carry out an excavation to uncover and keep the castle. medieval foundations for the gates, which had been covered and concreted in modern times.

The area, called Castlegate, is the oldest part of the northern city and has been inhabited since at least the 11th century. The original Mote-and-Baley Castle was built around 1120 by Baron William de Lovetot, following the Harrying of the North. (a series of military campaigns that William the Conqueror led in 1069–1070 to subjugate northern England) and the establishment of Norman rule over the region. After it was destroyed during the Second Barons’ War—in which an army of barons led by Simon de Montfort fought against King Henry III and later King Edward I—a stone castle was built in its place by Baron Thomas de Furnival, and construction began. in 1270. In the late 16th century, Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in the castle and its estates for 14 years when she was considered a threat to the English throne held by her cousin Elizabeth I.

During the English Civil War (1642-1651), the House of Commons scheduled it for demolition. The grounds were used as an orchard and later as a bowling green, and were built on in the mid-20th century to create the Inner Castle Square, which was itself demolished in 2015.

After removing the modern layers of concrete and backfill deposits, archaeologists found the remains of a 19th-century crucible furnace – one of the oldest types of furnaces for melting and casting metals. The furnace would have been used in the crucible steel making process for which Sheffield was world famous.

“This cellar would have been a hot, unpleasant place when the crucible furnaces above were operating,” said Wessex Archaeology. “Reaching temperatures of 1,200 degrees Celsius, the burning process was hot and efficient, but it also produced a lot of ash that needed to be cleaned up. The ash would fall into the ‘raking’ pits below, where a worker, perhaps a young boy, would be tasked with removing it.’

Ashley Tuck, an archaeologist leading the dig, said: “Once a commanding center of power for more than 600 years, the castle was left as a ruin… Since then, the remains of this once-dominant structure have remained hidden from public view. . As someone who lives and works in Sheffield, it’s a great honor to lead the team uncovering its remains so that we can learn more about its tumultuous history and allow it to occupy the city center once again.”

This archaeological work is funded by a grant received by Sheffield City Council in 2021 as part of the Conservative government’s Leveling Up Fund. The £20 million ($24.7 million) grant will fund the work, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025. Sheffield City Council plans to restore the old grounds of the castle to create Sheaf Field Park, a and event space. Throughout May, Wessex Archeology is inviting the Sheffield community to join them for tours of the dig site.

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