Development of Cholera Monument Grounds
Development Process
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During the 1980's and 90's, like most open spaces, the grounds deteriorated due to cutbacks in maintenance budgets and the effects of Compulsory Competitive Tendering. Features like the shrub beds and paths were becoming overgrown and regular maintenance was limited to grass cutting and litter removal. In 1990 the site suffered a major setback when the top half of the Cholera Monument was blown over during a storm.
During the 1990's a concerned group of people got together to look at ways of improving the site. This led to a project partnership combining local business, the Friends Of Cholera Monument Grounds, Sheffield Wildlife Trust, Green Estate, Manor & Castle Development Trust and Sheffield City Council being set up. The partnership raised funding of over £300,000 for the restoration of the Cholera Monument and Grounds during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. The majority of the funding came from the Heritage Lottery Fund which was then increased by regeneration funds and generous donations from businesses.
Work on site
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The rebuilding of the monument and most of the landscape improvements to the grounds were carried out as one contract between July 2003 and May 2004. All of the surviving pieces of the monument were brought to site, identified and labelled (see top photo). As the original quarry for the monument's stone in the Rivelin Valley was no longer operational, a source of similar sandstone had to be found. Dunhouse Quarry in Darlington was the closest match. A hole was drilled down through the centre of the monument all of the way to bedrock below. A metal rod was then used to strengthen and anchor the monument, and also to act as a lightning conductor. The three statues were too damaged to be used, so new ones were carved from Portland limestone using old photos as a guide. Finally, the monument was topped with a new contemporary metal cross.
Other work in the contract included:
- New lighting for the monument.
- Removing the central shrub bed from the main path.
- Narrowing the main path to its original width.
- Recreating a path round the base of the monument.
- Surfacing the main path with bound gravel.
- Restoring the original path layout through the rest of the grounds in crushed brick.
- Repairing the Master Cutler's grave and installing a new rail around it.
- Repairing and painting the railings and benches.
- Cladding the sub-station in stone.
Work on the 'soft' landscaping was carried out by the Park Rangers and tree contractors:
- Removing 'unsympathetic' trees and shrub beds.
- Regenerating the overgrown shrub beds by heavy pruning, defining edges, replanting and applying a woodchip mulch.
- New tree planting.
- Removal of rose beds from burial site and replacing them with grass.
The Park Rangers worked with artists and the local community to design a range of artwork, interpretation and information boards.