History of the Department

The University of Sheffield developed out of three nineteenth century educational foundations. The first of these, the Medical School, was opened in 1828 by a group of local doctors. The second institution, Firth College, was established in 1879 to give instruction in Arts and Science, with a view to becoming a University College. The third foundation, the Technical School, began as a department of Firth College, but once installed in 1884 in new buildings at St George's Square, it quickly achieved full independence.

The three institutions were united in 1897, when a Royal Charter was granted to University College, Sheffield. This was followed by a Charter conferring full University status on 31 May 1905.

In the new University, St George's became the Applied Science campus. The original Technical School buildings were greatly extended over the years, to house the various engineering departments, together with the Departments of Metallurgy, Refractories and Geology.

The first teacher of civil engineering, appointed to the old Technical School in 1892, was Joseph Husband. He was the first Head of Department when Civil Engineering became an independent department in 1917, and retired in 1936 after forty four years of service, the last sixteen of these as Professor. During this time he was active in professional as well as academic circles. On retirement from the University he founded the consulting practice of Husband and Partners, and served as President of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

His successor, NS Boulton, controlled the Department from 1936 to 1964. During this period, new buildings along Broad Lane were planned and completed to permit a large expansion in student numbers. At the same time, the equipment and facilities necessary for growth in the research and development fields were acquired.

After Professor Boulton's retirement, W Eastwood, who like Professor Husband became President of the Institution of Structural Engineers, served 7 years as Head of Department before leaving to take up a partnership in the practice founded by Professor Husband, before setting up the consultancy of Eastwood and Partners.

During the 1950's, 60's and early 70's both student and staff numbers increased markedly. In 1954, when the first stage of the new buildings was ready for occupation, there were 40 undergraduates and 3 postgraduate students. Ten years later, when the final stage was completed, there were 137 undergraduates and 12 postgraduates. By 1971, when Professor B Rawlings succeeded Professor Eastwood as Head of Department, there were 249 undergraduate students and postgraduate numbers had risen to 35.

Professor Rawlings returned to Australia in 1975 and Professor TH Hanna became Head of Department. Growth continued, particularly in postgraduate numbers, peaking in 1977 when there were 276 undergraduates and 62 postgraduates. Professor Hanna served as Head of Department, with a break from 1978 until 1981 when Professor D Bond was Head, until 1991.

Professor Peter Waldron was appointed in 1992 to lead the Department, and on his promotion to Pro-Vice-Chancellor in 1996 was succeeded by Professor WF (Bill) Anderson who oversaw the move to a mainly MEng intake of undergraduates. Professor David Lerner became Head in 2001, and has stimulated significant growth. With promotions and new appointments, the Department has grown to 10 Professors and 22 other academic staff, with commensurate rises in student numbers to 210 undergraduates, 43 postgraduates, and 66 researchers.

The next phase of the Department's growth will see an expansion of the estate, and Environmental Engineering Science activities move to much larger laboratories across Broad Lane with the acquisition the Health and Safety Laboratory site.