Monument Grounds

The following is from the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. For the most up-to-date Register entry, please visit the The National Heritage List for England (NHLE):

www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list

A cholera burial ground of 1832, the Cholera Monument of 1834-5, and early to mid-19th century pleasure grounds, laid out on land owned by the twelfth Duke of Norfolk.

Location, Area, Boundaries, Landform and Setting

Monument Grounds is located 1km south-east of Sheffield city centre on elevated land, rising gently to the south-west and south-east, overlooking the city. The south-west edge of Monument Grounds is formed by a steep slope dipping to the south-west. Oriented on a north-east to south-west axis, Monument Grounds is roughly rectangular in layout, occupying an area of 1.66ha. The north-east boundary, situated on the south side of and parallel to Norfolk Road, is formed by a 0.5m high dressed gritstone wall with elaborate coping (C19), surmounted by railings (C20). The wall and railings are terminated at the southern end by a very tall stone pier, similar to those at the main entrance. On the opposite side of Norfolk Road lie the grounds of the Shrewsbury Almshouses (listed grade II).

The south-east boundary is formed by a 1m high gritstone wall (late C20). Beyond it lies recent residential development, garages (late C20), and an access road. The boundary to the south is currently (2003) formed by the edge of woodland marking the boundary with Clay Wood, a mid C19 woodland plantation (outside the area here registered). The south-west boundary, formed by a red-brick wall of variable height (late C20), is on steep terrain on the dip slope below the Cholera Monument (M E Hadfield 1834-5, listed grade II). Boundary changes have occurred to the south and south-west following the building of Claywood Flats and the acquisition of Clay Wood. The railings which for some time formed a boundary around the burial ground and the Monument, and between Monument Grounds and Clay Wood, have gone. The north-west boundary is formed by a formal clipped privet hedge and shrub planting. Beyond it lie the grounds of the fifteen-storey Claywood Flats and the back gardens of houses on Norfolk Road.

From the Monument there are excellent views to the north-west, west, south-west, and south across the city to the western suburbs and the moors beyond. The walk around the perimeter of Monument Grounds affords occasional distant and middle-distant views to the north, north-west, and west, views partially blocked by Claywood Flats.

Entrances and Approaches

The main entrance to Monument Grounds is situated towards the northern end of the north-east boundary and is approached from Norfolk Road. The wide carriage entrance is marked by two very tall elaborate stone gate piers (C19) and a pair of gates (C20). Other minor access points leading into Monument Grounds are from Claywood Flats, situated to the north-west (outside the area here registered), from the garages of Claywood Flats to the south-west, and from Clay Wood to the south (outside the area here registered).

Other Land

Three areas can be identified within the simple layout of Monument Grounds: the Cholera Monument and its setting, situated in the south-west corner; the burial ground and the Master Cutler's grave, situated north-east of the Monument; and early to mid C19 pleasure grounds, situated north-east of the burial ground. A wide straight axial walk, connecting directly from the main entrance to the Monument, and a more circuitous path around the perimeter of the pleasure grounds, combine to link all parts of Monument Grounds.

Immediately inside the main entrance, the Cholera Monument can be seen to the south-west, terminating the view along the straight axial walk. The chapel of the Shrewsbury Almshouses, situated to the north-east (outside the area here registered), is also aligned on this axis. In the late 1960s, the axial walk was widened and long narrow planting beds introduced at intervals into the central part of the walk. Some 7m south of the main entrance, a path which gives access to the perimeter of the pleasure grounds leads to the south-east from the main axial walk.

Continuing south-west along the main axial walk, to either side are seats (C20) at various intervals and trees (C19 and late C20), including cherry, oak, and sycamore, some of which may reflect an early planting scheme (OS 1853). Good views from the axial walk to the north-west, west, and south-west over Sheffield and beyond are partly obscured by both Claywood Flats and mature trees. On the eastern side of the axial walk and 85m south-south-west of the main entrance, a large shrub bed comprising mature hollies (C19) and mixed shrub planting (late C20) marks the position of a planting bed which formed part of an early planting scheme within the pleasure grounds (OS 1853). On the western side of the axial walk and 100m south-west of the main entrance, a ramped path descends into the grounds of Claywood Flats.

The exact extent and location of the cholera burial ground is now (2003) unclear. Part of the path leading south-east off the main axis and forming a circuitous route around the pleasure grounds has now gone (OS 1853) and railings which bounded the burial ground and the Cholera Monument (OS 1853, 1890, 1905) are no longer in evidence (2003). The base of a drinking fountain, c 100m south-west of the main entrance and on the eastern side of the axial walk, is still evident, situated at the north-west corner of the burial ground. Two gravestones remain, those of John Simmonite and George Toyne. The ground, which is grassed over (2003), is generally uneven suggesting areas of burial. Some 140m south-south-west of the main entrance, a path, shown on the OS map of 1853, leads south-east to the monument to the Master Cutler, a chest tomb situated on an elevated grass mound. The railings which surrounded it are now (2003) missing.

Some 145m south-west of the main entrance, the axial walk bifurcates, one path ending abruptly 6m to the west, another ending abruptly 14m to the south. Both paths formed part of a triangular path layout, now (2003) incomplete, which formerly gave access to the base of the Cholera Monument (OS 1853, 1890) and its setting. At present (2003) the Cholera Monument, situated 163m south-west of the main entrance in a prominent position on a wide grass mound, has only its lower half intact. The immediate setting of the Monument has changed through time (OS 1853, 1890). The area surrounding the Monument is now closely cut grass and immediately to the south-west the ground descends steeply, affording unimpeded panoramic views across the city. Beyond the south-west boundary wall, steps descend, giving access to the garages of Claywood Flats (late C20).

The gravel path off the axial walk which leads south-east towards the Master Cutler's grave continues south-eastwards towards Clay Wood. The path from the Master Cutler's grave was extended to connect to an existing perimeter path in the early C20 (OS 1905). On this perimeter path, towards the edge of Clay Wood and 145m south of the main entrance, a group of mature hollies signals the transition from Monument Grounds to Clay Wood (outside the area here registered), with a narrow path leading into the woods from this point. The perimeter path, surfaced in red blaize and in parts partially encroached by grass (2003), continues to the north-east, close to the south-east boundary. The site of a former bowling green (early C20) 110m south of the main entrance is still in evidence as a level grass area immediately north-west of the perimeter path.

The features of the early to mid C19 pleasure grounds, expanses of grass, specimen trees, and island beds of planting shown on the OS map of 1853 remain in evidence and combine to afford progressive and varied views from the perimeter path both within Monument Grounds, towards the Monument and burial ground, and beyond towards the city. Towards the north-east boundary, good views are afforded from the perimeter path through the boundary railings towards Norfolk Road and the Shrewsbury Almshouses and grounds. The perimeter path continues to the north-west to rejoin the main axial walk, 7m south of the main entrance.

Comparison of the existing site with the 5' to 1 mile OS map published in 1853 suggests that the broad structure of the original planting layout remains in evidence. The present (2003) structure of trees combines mature specimens planted in the mid C19 with later plantings made in the early and late C20. The original positions of island shrub beds shown on early OS maps are evident today, now occupied by mature holly specimens (early C20) and recent shrub plantings made in the late C20.

REFERENCES

J Sewell, The Cholera Monument & Monument Grounds, Sheffield: Historical Analysis and Restoration Proposals, (report for Sheffield City Council and SIS Systems, Sheffield, 2002)

Maps

J Leather, Land Surveyor, Plan of Sheffield in 1823, 1" to 300 yards, 1823 (Sheffield Local Studies Library)

J Tayler, Land & Mineral Surveyor, A Map of the Town & Environs of Sheffield in the West Riding of the County of York, 1" to 300 yards, 1832 (Sheffield Local Studies Library)

W White, Sheffield, 1" to 300 yards, 1838 (Sheffield Local Studies Library)

OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1850, published 1855

OS 25" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1889-92, published 1894; 2nd edition revised 1903, published 1905

OS 5' to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1851, published 1853

OS 10' to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1889, published 1890

Description written: February 2003

Amended: February 2003

Edited: October 2003