Sheaf Square
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sheaf Square is a municipal square lying immediately east of the city centre of Sheffield, England. The sides of the square are lined with major buildings: Sheffield Midland Station, the Showroom Cinema, Sheffield Science Park, the early nineteenth century Howard Hotel and the Nelson Mandela Building - the former Sheffield Hallam University Students' Union, soon to be demolished for a 4* Raddisson Hotel. Sheaf House and Dyson House, demolished in 2005 and 2006 respectively, completed the square, which now has it's southern edge much further back, lined by the station's car-park. The e-campus, soon to be built across Sheaf Street between the station and Sheffield Interchange also has plans to build a centre on the original site of Sheaf and Dyson House
The square lies over the confluence of the Porter Brook and River Sheaf. Pond Tilt Forge and its dam were constructed on the site in 1732, with Bamforth Dam following about 1780. The two were filled in 1856 to accommodate the proposed railway station[1]. With the post-World War II traffic plan for Sheffield, the site became a major intersection on Sheffield's inner ring road, with Sheaf Street, Pond Street, Howard Street and Paternoster Row meeting at a roundabout which was named Sheaf Square for the now subterranean river.
| Both maps below show the difference in the roadwork on Sheaf Square between 2002 and 2006: | |
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As of 2006, work is under way to simplify the road system and create a primarily pedestrianised space with a water cascade and a steel sculpture, leading people from the station, up Howard Street and into the city centre to the side of the Square.
The gateway to Sheffield city centre situated to the side of Sheaf Square opened on 22 December 2006 with street performances and a fireworks display. The gateway contains seating, trees, effective lighting and two large water features, one of which includes The Cutting Edge steel sculpture. The new construction now acts as a 21st century gateway to the city and aims to give a good first impression of Sheffield to those arriving by train.
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| Sheffield City Centre |
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| Official quarters: Castlegate • Cathedral Quarter • Cultural Industries Quarter • Devonshire Quarter • Heart of the City • Kelham Island • The Moor • Riverside Exchange • Sheaf Valley • St George's Quarter • St Vincent's Quarter |
| Main streets and squares: Barker's Pool • Castlegate • Castle Square • Church Street • Division Street • Fargate • Fitzalan Square • Hallam Square • High Street • Millennium Square • The Moor • Orchard Square • Pinstone Street • Sheaf Square • Tudor Square |
| Other districts: New Retail Quarter • Victoria Quays • West End |
