Fitzalan Square

Last updated

Fitzalan Square in June 2020, following renovations. FitzalanSquare2020.jpg
Fitzalan Square in June 2020, following renovations.
The King Edward VII statue in Fitzalan Square with the old Post Office building in the background now sold. Edward VII, Fitzalan Square.jpg
The King Edward VII statue in Fitzalan Square with the old Post Office building in the background now sold.

Fitzalan Square is a municipal square situated in the city centre of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. The present day square is one of the busiest areas of the city centre, with traffic and pedestrians continually moving through the area. It has a Sheffield Supertram stop and a taxi rank.

Contents

This area of the city had been the market quarter since the medieval era and the modern square takes its name from the Fitzalan Market Hall, which stood near the site from 1786 to 1930. The Fitzalans were a lesser branch of the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk and the major local landowners at that time.

In 2017, Sheffield City Council announced plans to renovate the square. [1] [2]

Location

The square is located in the city centre at 53°22′58″N1°27′41″W / 53.38278°N 1.46139°W / 53.38278; -1.46139 ; to the south of the eastern end of High Street. It is rectangular in shape, formed by the staggered intersections of Flat Street and Haymarket with High Street from the south and north respectively. Commercial Street and Bakers Hill leave the square to the east. Norfolk Street used to intersect with Flat Street at the south-western corner of the square, but it was cut off from the square when Arundel Gate was constructed in 1968.

Fitzalan Square, in 2006 the Marples building is on the far right of the picture. Fitzalan Square.jpg
Fitzalan Square, in 2006 the Marples building is on the far right of the picture.

History

Fitzalan Square was created in 1881 when Market Street and its buildings were demolished; the early square had a substantial cab stand and clock. However, this was demolished in 1913 to make way for a bronze statue of King Edward VII by Alfred Drury (1857–1944). [3] This was unveiled by the Duke of Norfolk on 27 October 1913, and stands to this day.

Sheffield's Head Post Office operated in the square for almost ninety years. Built in 1910 as an addition to the 1897 post office building on Flat Street, it closed in 1999, with the main post office moving to new premises within the Co-op store on Angel Street. The Grade II listed [4] Post Office building was up for sale for a considerable time before finally being sold for development in early 2006. On the west side of the square is the Grade II listed White Building. [5] Built in 1908 by Gibbs and Flockton, it is faced in faience with carvings of the Sheffield metal trades by Alfred and William Tory, the faience was intended to resist the soot that blackened many of Sheffield's buildings at the time. [6] The early square also had the Electra Palace Cinema, which opened February 1911. It became the News Theatre in 1945 and the Classic Cinema in 1962. It closed in 1982, and the building was destroyed by a fire in 1984. The site is now occupied by an amusement arcade. Next door to the cinema was the Bell Hotel public house, which is now a gift shop. Another public house, the Elephant Inn, stood on the corner where Norfolk Street entered the square. This closed in the late 1960s; it later became a branch of Halfords and then a charity shop. The well known Sheffield company of Wigfalls also had a shop in the square for many years, this is now a betting shop. However, the best-known structure in Fitzalan Square is the “Marples” building.

The Marples tragedy

The building at the corner of the square as it joins High Street was first occupied by a hotel in 1870; John Marples became the proprietor in 1886 and named the establishment the London Mart however it was always known locally as “The Marples”.

On the night of Thursday 12 December 1940, 280 German bombers attacked Sheffield in what has become known as the Sheffield Blitz. Their target was the steel works producing armaments in the east end of the city, however a mistake in navigation caused the city centre to become the main target. Fire bombs caused widespread panic, and many people took shelter in the Marples’ extensive cellars, believing they were safe under the robust seven-storey building. At 11:44 p.m. the Marples building took a direct hit from a bomb which plunged through the building and detonated just above the cellars, killing approximately 70 people and reducing the building to a 15-foot-high (4.6 m) pile of rubble. The next day seven men were dug out of the rubble still alive, as a small section of cellar roof had, amazingly, withstood the impact. [7]

The Marples site stood derelict until 1959 when the brewing company John Smith opened a new public house on the site, this time officially called “The Marples”. The pub closed in 2002 and was occupied by the Hein Gericke motorcycle clothing and accessory outlet until 2008. The building then stood empty for a few years but since 2012 the Marples building has been occupied by Cash Shop, a fair money lending and pawn broking company. [8]

Present day

Fitzalan Square received a facelift during the summer of 2003. [9] The Edward VII statue was cleaned and protected from pigeons, and lights were added to illuminate it at night. New sandstone paving and steel benches were installed, the trees were pruned and the street lighting was improved. In addition to a fair money lending and pawn broking company, amusement arcade and gift shop, the square contains three betting shops from national chains Betfred, Coral and Ladbrokes, a few insurance companies and a small newsagents. In the inner part of the square there is also a fast food hut named @Marples and a small police cabin. In January 2016, the Sheffield Institute of Arts (the art and design department within Sheffield Hallam University) moved into a fully refurbished Head Post Office, at the start of an initial 20-year lease, housing graphic design, fine art, fashion and product design. It is believed the Council will be further updating and improving the central area/island within the Square, possibly closing off one side to traffic.[ citation needed ]

Sheffield Supertram stop

Fitzalan Square/Ponds Forge is a central station on the Supertram tramway in Sheffield, serving the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. It is one of only three stations served by all four of the system’s lines.

Preceding station  Sheffield Supertram  Following station
Castle Square
towards Middlewood
 Yellow Line Hyde Park
towards Meadowhall Interchange
Castle Square
towards Malin Bridge
 Blue Line  Sheffield Station/Sheffield Hallam University
towards Halfway
Castle Square
towards Cathedral
 Purple Line  Sheffield Station/Sheffield Hallam University
towards Herdings
Castle Square
towards Cathedral
 Tram/Train Hyde Park
towards Rotherham Parkgate

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheffield Supertram</span> Light rail system in South Yorkshire, England

The Sheffield Supertram is a tram and tram-train network covering Sheffield and Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England. The infrastructure is owned by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), with Stagecoach responsible for the operation and maintenance of rolling stock under a concession until 2024, under the brand name Stagecoach Supertram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheffield station</span> Combined railway station and tram stop in Sheffield, England

Sheffield station is a combined railway station and tram stop in Sheffield, England; it is the busiest station in South Yorkshire. Adjacent is Sheffield station/Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield Supertram stop. In 2017–18, the station was the 43rd-busiest in the UK and the 15th-busiest outside London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arbourthorne</span> Electoral ward in the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Park & Arbourthorne ward—which includes the districts of Arbourthorne, Gleadless, and Norfolk Park—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the southeastern part of the city and covers an area of 1.74 square miles (4.5 km2). The population of this ward in 2001 was 17,500 people in 7,800 households. The ward population at the 2011 Census was 19,133. It is one of the five wards that form the Sheffield Heeley parliamentary constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meadowhall Interchange</span> Transport interchange serving Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Meadowhall Interchange is a transport interchange located in north-east Sheffield, consisting of a combined heavy rail station, tram stop and bus and coach station. The second-busiest heavy rail station in the city in terms of passenger numbers, Meadowhall Interchange provides connections between National Rail services, the Sheffield Supertram light rail network, intercity coach services and the city bus network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Square, Sheffield</span>

Castle Square is the plaza at the intersection of High Street, Angel Street, and Arundel Gate in the City of Sheffield, England. This name was given to the square in the 1960s to reflect the proximity of the square to the site of Sheffield Castle, which was formerly located a short distance to the north-east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Square Bridge</span>

Park Square Bridge, also known as the Supertram Bridge, is a prominent bridge in the City of Sheffield, England. It was constructed in 1993 using a bowstring, or tied arch design. The bridge carries the Sheffield Supertram system from Commercial Street onto the Park Square roundabout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosborough (ward)</span> Electoral ward in the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Mosborough is an electoral ward of the City of Sheffield, England, in the eastern part of the city, on the border with North East Derbyshire District. The population in 2011 was 17,097. It is one of the wards that make up the Sheffield South East constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield</span> Theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

The Lyceum is a 1,068-seat theatre in the City of Sheffield, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Market</span>

Castle Market was an indoor market in Sheffield city centre, England. The building lay in the north-east of the present city centre, by the River Don, and was built on top of the remains of Sheffield Castle, which could still be seen via guided tours. The market closed in 2013 when the Moor Market opened on The Moor, further south in Sheffield city centre, and demolition began in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheffield Interchange</span> Bus station in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Sheffield Interchange is the main bus station in central Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The facility is served by buses operating across the Sheffield region, as well as National Express coaches that connect Sheffield with destinations across the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fargate</span>

Fargate is a pedestrian precinct and shopping area in Sheffield, England. It runs between Barker's Pool and High Street opposite the cathedral. It was pedestrianised in 1973. Fargate also holds a Continental Market approximately 4 times a year, which includes European stalls selling cheeses, confectionery, clothing, plants and crafts including jewellery and ornaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheffield City Centre</span> Central business district in South Yorkshire, England

Sheffield City Centre is a district of the City of Sheffield and is covered partly by the City ward of the City of Sheffield. It includes the area that is within a radius of roughly 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of Sheffield Cathedral and is encircled by the Inner Ring Road, a circular route started in the late 1960s and completed in 2007. As well as the cathedral, buildings in the city centre include the Grade I listed Town Hall, the City Hall and the Winter Gardens. Several areas of the city centre have been designated as quarters. It is home to the city's major business, transport, leisure and cultural attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Street, Sheffield</span>

High Street is one of the main thoroughfares and shopping areas in the city centre of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, located at the approximate grid reference of SK356874. High Street starts at the Commercial Street, Fitzalan Square and Haymarket junction and runs for approximately 400 metres west to conclude near the Sheffield Cathedral where it forms a Y-junction with Fargate and Church Street. High Street has the traditional wide variety of shops, financial institutions and eating places which are associated with any British town centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Daisy Nightclub</span> Former nightclub in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

The Crazy Daisy Nightclub was a discothèque and dance club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England in the mid-1970s to late 1980s, located originally on the corner of York Street and High Street, Sheffield. It was known as The Beer Keller in the early to mid-1970s. It was renamed the Crazy Daizy in 1973 and run by Mecca. Lunch-time discos and Bryan Ferry nights were popular in the mid-1970s. In 1978 it was taken over by the Tetley company. Situated in the basement of an art deco building, it featured numerous supporting pillars and a steep, sweeping staircase down from the entrance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Quarter, Sheffield</span>

The Cathedral Quarter is one of Sheffield's eleven designated quarters, located around and named after the Cathedral. It is bound by Tenter Street to the Northwest, West Bar to the North, Snig Hill to the North east, Angel Street to the East, High Street and Church Street to the south and Townhead Street around its western corner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church Street, Sheffield</span>

Church Street is situated in the centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, at the grid reference of SK353874. It runs for approximately 490 yards (450 m) in a westerly direction from its junction with Fargate and High Street to its termination at the crossroads formed by the junction with West Street, Leopold Street and Townhead Street. Church Street has its own Sheffield Supertram stop directly in front of the Sheffield Cathedral and it carries that name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarendon Square Shopping Centre</span> Shopping mall in Tameside, Greater Manchester

Clarendon Square Shopping Centre is a shopping mall in the town centre of Hyde, Greater Manchester. It holds multiple different retailers including both chain stores and independents, along the town's indoor market hall and outdoor market. The shopping centre opened in 1963 but it has since been redeveloped and renamed. It consists of the main retail mall, the Market Hall, along with additional sections of mall at the eastern-end. It is nearby the other major shopping areas of the town centre, such as Market Place and Market Street, and it is also close to the towns two major supermarkets, Asda and Morrisons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Haymarket</span> Former post office in Sheffield, United Kingdom

2 Haymarket is a listed building in Sheffield City Centre in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arundel Gate</span> Main thoroughfares in Sheffield, England

Arundel Gate is one of the main thoroughfares in Sheffield, England. It is located in the Heart of the City area of Sheffield City Centre. Arundel Gate also features a fifteen-stand bus station, including a ticket office building, completed in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings Tower, Sheffield</span> Future residential skyscraper in Sheffield, England

Kings Tower is an approved skyscraper that will be located on Castle Square at the junction of High Street and Angel Street in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. With a planned height of 120 m (390 ft) once completed, Kings Tower will overtake Code Sheffield, and St Pauls Tower as the tallest building in Sheffield and in Yorkshire. Plans for the tower were submitted by architects Hodder + Partners in September 2020, calling initially for a 39-storey tower. Planning permission was granted in December 2020, and construction is planned to complete in 2023. Amended plans were submitted in late 2022, adding a 40th floor to the project.

References

  1. Council, Sheffield City. "Fitzalan Square improvements progressing | Sheffield Newsroom | Sheffield City Council" . Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. Media, Insider. "New masterplan for Sheffield's Fitzalan Square". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. Historic England (1973). "Statue of King Edward VII (1270597)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  4. Historic England (1973). "Head Post Office and attached railing (1254815)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  5. Historic England (1992). "The White Building (1270596)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  6. Harman, R. & Minnis, J. (2004) Pevsner City Guides: Sheffield, p17 & pp150151. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. ISBN   0-300-10585-1
  7. "The Marples Tragedy (Sheffield Blitz, 1940)". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  8. www.chrishobbs.com. Information on Marples tragedy from this site.
  9. Sheffield City Council website. Archived 24 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Details of 2003 facelift.

53°22′58″N1°27′53″W / 53.382852°N 1.464604°W / 53.382852; -1.464604