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Norfolk Heritage Trail
Development
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The Norfolk Heritage Trail is a signed route linking a range of historical buildings and open spaces with connections to the Dukes of Norfolk. It runs for 2 ¾ miles from Manor Lodge to the Cathedral and is mainly downhill. The trail has been developed by Sheffield Wildlife Trust thanks to grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Viridor Credits. The funding has paid for:
- Signposts along the route
- 4 information boards at Manor Lodge, City Road Cemetery,
Cholera Monument Grounds and Park Square - A trail leaflet
- A surfaced path and new entrance in Clay Wood
- Education Pack for schools
- A temporary development officer to deliver the project
The trail includes the following sites (click on links for more information on the history of individual sites):
Manor Lodge
Manor Lodge was built originally as a medieval hunting lodge for Sheffield’s great deer park. It was extended in the 1500’s to become an alternative residence for the Lords of Sheffield Manor instead of the draughty castle. Mary Queen of Scots spent most of her years of ‘captive custody’ within Manor Lodge.
City Road Cemetery
City Road Cemetery opened in 1881, and is the largest owned by Sheffield City Council. Within the cemetery there are a range of fine memorials and buildings, including one of the first crematoria in the country.
Norfolk Heritage Park
Norfolk Heritage Park was laid out by the 13th Duke of Norfolk in the 1840’s. The park was opened to the general public in 1848, making it one of the first public parks in the country.
Clay Wood
Clay Wood used to be part of an ancient coppiced wood and is named after a tenant called Joseph Clay. Coppiced means a high proportion of the trees were cut to the ground every 10 to 15 years to produce a crop of straight stems.
Cholera Monument Grounds
Cholera Monument Grounds were donated by the 12th Duke as a burial place for 339 victims of the cholera epidemic of 1832. The monument was built two years later as a tribute to all of the victims.
Shrewsbury Hospital (Almshouses)
Shrewsbury Hospital was founded by Gilbert Talbot, the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury. Originally on the site of Park Square, they were moved to Norfolk Road to avoid the frequent flooding of the River Sheaf.
The Sweet Factory
This small stone building was originally a non-conformist chapel or sunday school, but was then a sweet factory well into the 20th century.
Park Hill
Park Hill Flats were built in the late 1950’s to replace run down back-to-back housing. Park Hill is the largest listed building in Europe and still divides opinion on its architectural merits.
Sheffield Castle
Sheffield Castle was built in 1270 where the Rivers Sheaf and Don meet, replacing an earlier wooden structure. The castle was badly damaged in the English Civil War and largely demolished in 1648. Some remnants of the castle are still preserved under the city's Castle Market.
Old Queen's Head Pub
The Queen's Head was built in the 15th century by the Talbot family, this is thought to be the oldest domestic building in Sheffield. Previously known as “Hawle at the Poandes” when it was used as a lodge for fishing in the River Sheaf and surrounding ponds.
Cathedral
Sheffield Cathedral was originally built as a parish church, but has been a Church of England cathedral since the diocese of Sheffield was created in 1914. It contains the fascinating tombs of the 4th and 6th Earls of Shrewsbury, located within their own private chapel.
Further Information
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If you would like to learn more about the trail:
Events
A regular 4-hour guided walk begins at Manor Lodge following the trail to the cathedral, with a stop for lunch in Norfolk Heritage Park along the way. Please ring 276 2828 for details of the next walk.
Book
A fascinating book called ‘Sheffield’s Time Trail: True tales from the Norfolk Heritage Trail’ has been written by local historian Peter Machan to accompany the trail. It is semi-fictional and brings the history of Sheffield to life through the eyes of real people who shaped its development. The book is available in many local bookshops or alternatively via the Manor Lodge website.
Leaflet
The free leaflet that accompanies the trail is available from several locations including the Centre in the Park, Norfolk Heritage Park or as a downloadable document at the bottom of this page.
Management
The trail is being developed and managed by a steering group including representatives from:
- Sheffield City Council (Parks; Bereavement Services)
- Friends Groups (Cholera Monument Grounds; Norfolk Heritage Park; Manor Lodge)
- Local Historians
Downloads
A four page self-guided walk along the trail, highlighting the points of interest along the route. (483 KB)
Information on the trail without map and pictures. (48 KB)
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