Sheffield Castle

Sheffield Castle was a castle in Sheffield, England, constructed at the confluence of the River Sheaf and the River Don, possibly on the site of a former Anglo-Saxon long house, and dominating the early town. The remaining stone foundations date from a stone castle begun in 1270.

Early history

The site of Sheffield castle, at the confluence of the rivers Don and Sheaf, is the place where the earliest settlement at Sheffield was founded sometime in the second half of the 1st millennium AD.cite book |last=Vickers |first=J. Edward MBE |title=Old Sheffield Town. An Historical Miscellany |edition=2nd |year=1999 |publisher=The Hallamshire Press Limited |location=Sheffield |id=ISBN 1-874718-44-X ] The Domesday Book of 1086 states that, prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Waltheof II, Earl of Northumbria had an "aula" (hall) in the manor of Hallam. In the same entry, it is reported that the manor of Sheffield—which had previously been part of Hallam—was under the Lordship of Sweyn at the time of the conquest. It has been speculated that Waltheof's "aula" or Sweyn's stronghold may have been at this site, and excavations between 1927 and 1930 were claimed to have uncovered evidence of a Saxon structure.cite web |url=http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/business-economy/markets/history-and-visits/sheffield-castle/sheffield-castle-archaeological-investigation |title=Sheffield Castle Archaeological Investigations |accessdate=2008-09-01 |work=Sheffield City Council website |publisher=Sheffield City Council ] However, the earliest known reference to a castle at Sheffield is a return made by Ralph Murdac, sheriff of Derbyshire, concerning the wardship of Maud de Lovetot, dating from around 1188. [cite book |last=Hunter |first=Joseph |authorlink=Joseph Hunter (antiquarian) |title=Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York |chapter=III: Sheffield under De Busli and De Lovetot |year=1819 |publisher=Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones |location=London ()] It is thought that this castle was a wooden motte and bailey type, built for William de Lovetot in the early twelfth century. This castle, along with much of the town, was destroyed in 1266 during the Second Barons' War when a party of barons, led by John de Eyvill, marching from north Lincolnshire to Derbyshire passed through Sheffield and destroyed the town, burning the church and castle.

Thomas de Furnival's castle

In 1270 Thomas de Furnival obtained a charter from King Henry III to build a castle at Sheffield. Thomas died soon after the castle was completed and was buried in the castle. In 1707 a report was published stating that, when the castle was demolished in 1648, a large flat stone was found engraved "I Lord Furnival; I built this castle-hall; And under this wall; Within this tomb was my burial". [cite book |last=Hunter |first=Joseph |authorlink=Joseph Hunter (antiquarian) |title=Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York |chapter=III: Sheffield under the Barons Furnival |year=1819 |publisher=Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones |location=London ()]

De Furnival's castle was built of stone, and extended from the river Sheaf to Waingate and from the river Don to Dixon Lane, an area of about convert|4.2|acre|m2 ft2. A convert|2461|acre|km2 mi2|adj=on park was attached to the castle, it extended from the castle to Gleadless to the south and Handsworth to the east.cite book |last=Taylor |first=John (ed) |title=The Illustrated Guide to Sheffield and the Surrounding District |chapter=The Civil Wars |pages=pp. 30–32 |year=1879 |publisher=Pawson and Brailsford |location=Sheffield |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7ocuAAAAMAAJ ] In 1516, George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury built the alternative residence of Sheffield Manor in the park.

Destruction of the castle

At the start of the English Civil War in 1642 the castle was seized by Sir John Gell for the Parliamentarians.cite book |last=Hunter |first=Joseph |authorlink=Joseph Hunter (antiquarian) |title=Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York |chapter=VII: The Removal of the Lords of the Manor—The Civil Wars |year=1819 |publisher=Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones |location=London ()] In April 1643, Royalist forces led by the earl of Newcastle entered Yorkshire and took Leeds, Wakefield, and Rotherham before approaching Sheffield. The Parliamentary defenders of Sheffield castle fled into Derbyshire allowing the Royalists to take the castle without a fight. Newcastle left a garrison at the castle, under the control of Sir William Savile, as recounted by Margaret Cavendish, Newcastle's wife:

Sir William Savile left Sheffield and the castle under the control of his deputy, Major Thomas Beaumont, who held Sheffield until August 1644 when the Earl of Manchester sent Major-General Crawford and Colonel Pickering, a force of 1200 soldiers to recapture Sheffield for the Parliamentarians. At first the castle resisted, and finding their artillery—the largest of which was a demi-culverin—was insufficient to breach the castle wall, General Crawford sent a letter to Lord Fairfax for a demi-cannon ("the Queen's pocket-pistoll") and a whole culverin. These extra cannon were able to breach the castle wall, after which terms for the surrender of the castle were agreed:

quote|Articles of Agreement, between the commanders authorised by Major-General Crawford, and Major Thomas Beaumont, Governor of Sheffield Castle, for surrendering the same to the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester.

*ART. I. The Castle, with all the fire-arms, ordnance, and ammunition, all their furniture of war, aud all their provisions (except what is in the following articles), lobe delivered to Major-General Crawford to morrow, by three o'clock in the afternoon, being the 11th of this instant August, without any diminution or embezzlement.

*ART. II. That the Governor,and all other officers, shall march out of the Castle upon the delivery thereof, with their drums and colours, and each his own horse saddled, sword and pistol, to Pomfret Castle, or wheresoever they please, with a sufficient convoy or pass, for their security ; the common soldiers to their own home, or where they please.

*ART. III. That all officers and soldiers, so marching ont, on this agreement, shall have liberty to carry with them their wives, children, and servants, with their own goods, properly belonging to them, and shall have all convenient accommodation for carrying the same away.

*ART. IV. That the Lady Savill, and her children and family, with her own proper goods, shall and may pass with coaches, horses, and waggons to Tbornhill, or elsewhere, with a sufficient guard, befitting her quality ; and without injury to any of their persons, or plundering any of their goods or otherwise. She, they, or any of them, to go or stay at their own pleasure, until she or they be in a condition to remove themselves.

*ART. V. That the gentlemen in the Castle being no soldiers, shall march out with each his own horse saddled, sword and pistol, and shall have liberty to remove their goods, and to live in their own house, or elsewhere, without molestation; they conforming to the ordinances of Parliament, and they shall hare protection of the Earl of Manchester and Lords. And all officers and soldiers, who chuae to lay down their arms, shall have the same protection.

*ART. VI. That the governor, officers, soldiers, gentlemen, and all others who are by this agreement to carry their own goods with them, shall have a week's time for removing the same; and in the mean time they are to be in the Castle, and secure from embezzlement. And this article is to be understood of all such goods as are at present within the Castle, or under the absolute command thereof.

*АRT. VII. That Kellam Homer, now living in the Castle, shall have liberty to remove his goods into the town, or elsewhere, without molestation.

*ART. VIII. That the governor, officers, gentlemen, and all other persons, shall (according to the articles above-mentioned) march out without injury or molestation.

*ART. IX. That hostages, such as Major Crawford shall approve, shall be delivered by the governor, upon signing the articles for delivery of the Castle, and safe return of the envoy; which hostages shall be returned safe, upon the performance thereof, unto such place as they desire.
Signed by us, Commissioners authorised by Major CRAWFORD, at Sheffield, this, 11th of August 1644.
J. PlCKERING
MARK GRIMSTON
WILLIAM HAMILTON

Signed by us, Commissioners authorised by Major ВEAUMONT, Governor of Sheffield Castle, this 11th of August 1644.
GABRIEL HEMSWORTH
SAM. SAVILL
THOS. ROBINSON

Agreement for the surrender of Sheffield Castle, quoted in Hunter, "Hallamshire"|

Lady Savile (mentioned in this agreement) was the widow of Sir William Savile. She was pregnant at the time of the siege, and went into labour the night after the castle was surrendered.

Following the siege Colonel John Bright of Carbrook Hall was left as governor of the castle. He was soon appointed governor of the city of York, and so left Captain Edward Gill in charge of Sheffield. On 30 April 1646 the House of Commons passed a resolution that Sheffield Castle should be made untenable, and on 13 July 1647 a resolution was passed for the castle to be demolished. Despite considerable demolition work, in 1649 the Earl of Arundel repurchased Sheffield castle with the intention of restoring it, however the damage was too great and no restoration work was ever started

Archaeological investigations

An excavation led by Leslie Armstrong in 1927, prior to the construction of the Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society store, uncovered the base of one of the gateway bastion towers, as well as part of the gateway itself.cite web |url=http://www.idigsheffield.org.uk/siteinfo.asp?site=25&level=1 |title=Excavating the moat at Sheffield Castle |accessdate=2006-12-30 |work=I Dig Sheffield ] These remains of the castle are preserved under the city's Castle Market: they are Grade II listed [English Heritage (1973) [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=458126 Remains of Sheffield Castle beneath Castle Market] (also [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=458127] and [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=458128] ), "Images of England" (accessed 2 January 2005).] and are occasionally open for viewing.

More recent excavations in 1999 and 2001 by ARCUS, Sheffield University's archaeological research and consultancy unit, revealed the castle to have been much larger than previously was thought: among the largest medieval castles in England. [cite journal |last=Keys |first=David |authorlink= |year=2002 |month=May |title=Digging up the Past: Sheffield |journal=History Today |volume=52 |issue=5 |pages=pp. 6–7 |url=http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=18298&amid=18298 |accessdate= |format= ]

References and notes