4.1 Castlegate Quarter
Character
The Castlegate Quarter is one of the oldest areas of Sheffield:
the site of the old Norman fortress and the main market area of
the original settlement. Today there is little evidence of the original
street pattern and the market survives in the form of the bustling
Castle Market, with remnants of the historic castle buried beneath.
The quarter is to the north east of the city centre, sited on the
steep southern slopes of the River Don, and offers views out to
the northern hills and eastward to Parkhill.
The multi-storey structure of the 1960s Castle Market dominates
the quarter, both as a landmark building and as the focus of its
activity. Surrounding the indoor market are smaller shops and outdoor
market stalls on the pedestrianised section of Exchange Street.
Much of the area is rundown and has the general ambience and appearance
you would expect from a budget shopping area. Decorative pedestrian
bridges and porticos signal the entry points to the market precinct,
however their general state of disrepair add to the cluttered appearance
of the area.
The market and shopping thoroughfares, some with small offices
located on the upper levels, to the south and west of the quarter
serve a valuable lower range or secondary commercial role to that
of the Heart of the City. The retail activity within the quarter
lends the streets a lively and animated atmosphere. The quarter
was also home to the former Sheaf and Setts Markets, however these
sites have now been opened for major mixed use redevelopment. The
Setts has been re-established as a street market in King Street
and Exchange Street.
The quarter is an important gateway to the city centre from the
northeast and the Castle Market a prominent feature in its elevated
position. However, the market building presents its service areas
to this aspect and fails to address the slope of the land in its
design. This has removed any sense of connection to the River Don,
which flows alongside its northern boundary, and inhibited key linkages
to the emerging business, residential and recreational activity
of Victoria Quays and the Riverside Quarter.
Haymarket and Waingate are historic thoroughfares into the city,
connecting into the northern entry point of Lady’s Bridge and the
Wicker, and have historic associations for local government and
the administration of justice. The quarter is well served by public
transport with the supertram route running along Commercial Street
on the southern edge and an adequate provision of bus stations at
Waingate provide an important shopper function.
The built form of the Castlegate Quarter currently consists of
high density developments which are largely used for retail. There
is a small area of pub and business use to the west and the area
in the east of the quarter is under demolition (the previous Sheaf
Market site). There is minimal housing in the quarter.
The age and style of the area’s architecture varies. War time bombing
and subsequent redevelopment have removed most of the earlier buildings,
although several examples of fine Victorian and Edwardian architecture
have survived, such as the historically significant Former Crown
Court which is currently vacant.
Older buildings are typically red brick, with stone being used
for public buildings, such as the early nineteenth century Former
Crown Court. The quarter’s more modern buildings are predominantly
concrete and curtain walling. Building heights vary from 4-6 storeys
in earlier buildings and 7-8 storeys in the more modern structures.
The environmental quality of the streets and spaces is poor and
detracts from the character of the area. Paving surfaces are generally
in bad condition, a variety of street furniture clutters the streetscape
and bus stops and road signage cause obstacles for pedestrians.
There is a lack of amenities such as seating or greenery which,
when coupled with the litter in the streets, further detracts from
the quarter’s ambience.
There are no distinct character areas in the quarter.
The principal buildings in the Castlegate Quarter are
- Former Sheffield United Gas Light Co.
- Old Police Station
- Castle Market
- Castle House
- Former Crown Court
- Yorkshire Bank/The Former Stock Exchange
- Hen and Chickens Public House
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