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05 December 2008
University Archaeologists Reunite Sheffield with its Ancient Past
Stunning images showing Sheffield´s magnificent stone castle as it may have appeared over 700 years ago have been produced by archaeologists at the University of Sheffield. The images, which are the first computer-generated images ever to be produced of Thomas de Furnival´s medieval castle, show the grand gatehouse, which stood on the site of Sheffield´s modern-day Castle Market in the 13th Century.
Produced by archaeologists from the Archaeological Research & Consultancy at the University of Sheffield (ARCUS), the striking images give a real sense of the imposing nature of the castle, a gateway that literally towered over the town, close to the confluence of the Rivers Sheaf and Don.
With the proposed plans to demolish Castle Market, and relocate traders to a new market by 2011, ARCUS are hoping that the new images will encourage public support for plans by a cross-party group of Sheffield City Councillors to excavate the site of the castle. In 2002, ARCUS undertook exploratory excavations in the loading bays behind Castle Market. The team were able to show that the castle moat survived, along with well-preserved stone work, possibly belonging to the undercroft of de Furnival's Great Hall.
The first castle was constructed on the site in c.AD 1100 by William de Lovetot, the son of one of William the Conquerer's Norman knights, and was a motte and bailey construction of earth and timber. This fortification was burnt down when supporters of Simon de Montforts Barons Revolt raided the town in AD 1266.
The castle was re-built in stone by Thomas de Furnival, Lord of Sheffield and Hallamshire, after he obtained a 'licence to crenellate' from King Henry III in AD 1270. De Furnival's castle was destroyed by Order of Parliament following the Civil War between 1648 and 1649, and the remains lie preserved beneath Castle Market, overlooking Exchange Place.
Curiously, for an urban monument of this size, there are no known historical plans or images of the Castle. However, there have been glimpses of the bases of the towers, which were seen during building work in the early 20th century.
ARCUS have based their reconstruction on photographs that were taken of stonework between 1927 and 1929 by Leslie Armstrong, who recorded finds for the local Hunter Archaeological Society when the Sheffield Market Hall and Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society store were being built.
The reconstruction uses additional information from observations by Leslie Butcher, of the City Architects Department, who noted castle stonework in construction trenches when the market extended following the destruction of the Brightside and Carbrook Co-op by German bombing in World War II. The ARCUS team also studied castles of a similar date in England and Wales, and used the surviving evidence of above ground architecture to shape their reconstruction.
Dr James Symonds, Director of ARCUS at the University of Sheffield, said: "These images show an important part of Sheffield´s history, which needs to be preserved and placed on public display. The excavation of Sheffield Castle will not be an easy task, but as regeneration proceeds it is a once in a generation opportunity, and should not be missed. ARCUS has already found out a great deal about this important site, and we are certain that with the necessary support we can take this exciting project forward.
"The carefully displayed remains of a medieval castle would act as a magnet for tourists to South Yorkshire, and would have clear economic benefits for businesses in the city centre. Beyond this simple economic imperative, unearthing Sheffield´s once proud medieval castle would also reunite the city with a forgotten aspect of its past, proving that the roots of Sheffield´s 19th Century prosperity, and 21st century engineering ingenuity are deep, and stretch back to the Middle Ages."
The images, produced by ARCUS, will be displayed at Museums Sheffield: Millennium Gallery from 29 January – 25 May 2009, as part of Treasures from the V&A. This exhibition will feature unparalleled examples of sculpture, metalwork and ceramics dating from around 400 to 1600AD. Treasures from the V&A presents a rare opportunity to see these highlights from the Victoria & Albert Museum´s collections together outside London before they return to the V&A in November 2009 to go on display as part of their newly refurbished Medieval and Renaissance galleries.
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