Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Sheffield Castle
Hob Uid: 314461
Location : Sheffield Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : SK3579087680
Summary : An Early Mediaeval royal hall was fortified by a ditch. This was replaced circa 1100 by a timber castle which burnt down in 1266. A stone castle built in 1270 was demolished in 1649 -50. In addition to these buildings, Roman and Saxon pottery was found and a Bronze Age flint scraper. Excavated 1927-8. In 1961 during building work part of the castle moat was exposed and planned.
More information : [SK 3578765] SHEFFIELD CASTLE [GT] (Site of). (1) Excavations carried out in 1927-9 on the site of Sheffield Castle, prior to redevelopment, revealed building foundations of three periods. The earliest, the remains of a large wooden structure of Saxon date, probably fortified by a dtich, and possibly the traditional Hall of Waltheof. This was replaced by a timber castle of c.1100 which was burnt down in 1266. A stone castle built in 1270 was demolished in 1649-50. Finds, in addition to Mediaeval, included Saxon pottery, some Roman sherds including Samian ware, and a flint horse-shoe scraper of B.A. type. Some masonry, including the remains of a bastion tower and gatehouse, has been enclosed and preserved beneath the present market hall. (2) The site of the castle, at SK 35798768, is now completely covered by the Castle Market, although some stonework, (referred to above), at SK 35818766 and SK 35818770, has been preserved amongst the piles of the present structure. During the building of this market in 1961, part of the castle moat was revealed in excavations and was plotted on the building plan by Mr. L. H. Butcher of Sheffield City Architects Department. See sketch plan at 1/1250, for copy of this plan. (3)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1956.
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : (A.L. Armstrong)
Page(s) : Jul-27
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Plates :
Vol(s) : Apr-37

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : F1 RL 12-MAR-65
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Bronze Age
Display Date : Bronze Age
Monument End Date : -700
Monument Start Date : -2600
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Early Medieval
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 410
Monument Type : Royal Palace, Fort
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte And Bailey, Castle, Bastion, Gatehouse
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Documentary Evidence, Ruined Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : demolished 1649-50
Monument End Date : 1650
Monument Start Date : 1649
Monument Type : Castle, Moat
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Period : Bronze Age
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : SCRAPER (TOOL)
Object Material :

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : VESSEL
Object Material : Pottery

Period : Early Medieval
Component Monument Type : Royal Palace, Fort
Object Type : VESSEL
Object Material : Pottery

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SK 38 NE 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1927-01-01
End Date : 1930-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1958-01-01
End Date : 1972-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1965-03-12
End Date : 1965-03-12

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MEASURED SURVEY
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1999-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2001-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Start Date : 2013-01-01
End Date : 2015-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 2013-01-01
End Date : 2014-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2017-01-01
End Date : 2017-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Sheffield Castle