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. Underneath all of Fargate there are mass medieval graves.[citation needed] 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.
In his "A DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN OF SHEFFIELD", the author, Joseph Woolhouse wrote in the year 1832 at the time the Cholera was raging in Sheffield, "In going up Fargate there was houses built on both sides. The Lords House stood a little on the North side of the present Norfolk Row. A very elegant old House, it was inclosed by a Wall in a half Circle and Palisaded. The present Duke of Norfolk was born in this house. This I expect is the reason why it was called the Lord's house, he being I.of the Manor".
More recently, the street was home to Sheffield Assay Office.
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Coles Corner
The corner at bottom end of Fargate (opposite the cathedral) is known locally as Coles Corner. It was a famous meeting point in the city, named after Cole Brothers who occupied the building. Originally The Albert Hall cinema which burnt down in 1937[1], it is now home to a modern building which currently houses HSBC, Starbucks Coffee, Vodafone and The Carphone Warehouse. but a plaque has been erected in memory of the Cole Brothers store. The location is immortalised by Richard Hawley's album of the same name.
Carmel House
In November 2005, the University of Sheffield´s archaeological consultancy, ARCUS, unearthed a medieval well of over three metres in depth in the sandstone bedrock beneath Carmel House on Fargate [2]. The Sheffield city centre site was being excavated as part of a redevelopment project.
Pottery found in the well, suggests that it was in use by 1300 AD, and had been filled in around the time of the English Civil War. Medieval pots included jugs made in the Hallgate area of neighbouring Doncaster and other items from the Humber Estuary.
This discovery was said to offer significant evidence relating to the medieval town of Sheffield, still a small market town, before its growth during the subsequent Industrial Revolution. Dating of the well indicates that it was probably dug around the time of the rebuilding of Sheffield Castle in stone, in 1270 and the granting of Sheffield's Market Charter by Edward I in 1296.
Due to the conditions in the well, animal bones, plant remains (possibly including microscopic pollen grains) have been preserved and will be analysed the University's Department of Archaeology laboratories.
In February 2005, Sheffield City Council's Executive Director of Development and Leisure, in the "PROPOSED COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER: SHOPS AT CARMEL HOUSE, 57 AND 63 FARGATE",[3] had commented "Carmel House, at the junction of Fargate and Norfolk Row is an imposing Victorian stone fronted Grade 2 listed building which, together with the adjoining terrace of attractive Georgian brick properties, is almost completely empty and is in need of refurbishment. Full planning permission was granted in January 2004 for a comprehensive scheme which will involve creating four new modern retail units by demolishing the existing buildings behind the retained façade.".
The Council's Conservation Advisory Group, in the Minutes of their meeting on the 20th of December 2005 [4] "regretted that its advice regarding the development of Carmel House had not been taken into account and it wondered whether Carmel House would be liable to be removed from the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, in view of the extent of demolition which had taken place".
The Fargate ferris wheel
A 173ft (53m) high ferris wheel was built on Fargate in mid-July 2009 in ten days and stay at the top of the pedestrian street until January 2010[5]. The wheel is similar to those in London, Manchester and York and includes 42 gondolas, each capable of carrying up to eight people.
References
- ^ Taken from 3. Meet Me at Cole's Corner in More Sheffield Curiosities, A further selection of strange sights, unusual buildings and rare survivals by Duncan & Trevor Smith
- ^ "Sheffield University Media Centre". http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2005/485.html.
- ^ Sheffield City Council - Compulsory Purchase Order - Shops at 57 and 63 Fargate
- ^ Sheffield City Council - Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group Minutes 20th December 2005
- ^ Giant city wheel starts turning, BBC News
External links
Coordinates: 53°22′54″N 1°28′09″W / 53.381573°N 1.469116°W
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