Manor Lodge is the most important historic site in Sheffield, since the destruction of Sheffield Castle. It is a scheduled ancient monument and boasts three listed buildings, but despite this it is little known by the majority of Sheffield's population. This year however Sheffield Manor Lodge has been chosen to feature in the new series of the highly successful BBC2 television series "Restoration".

Mary Queen of Scots to Industrial Revolution

Manor Lodge and the characters associated with it have played leading roles not only in Sheffield life, but also on the national stage. Fourteen of the years Mary Queen of Scots spent in captivity plotting to take her cousin Queen Elizabeth's place were spent in Sheffield, and a good deal of that time at the Lodge. That same period of Sheffield Park's history saw the beginnings of industrialisation under the hand of Mary's jailor, the Earl of Shrewsbury. Two centuries later, the Shrewsbury family successors, the Norfolks, were employing one of the country's leading mining engineers, John Curr, to spearhead another step change in mining development and this was to lead to the invention of the railway track.

Manor Lodge was key to Sheffield's development in many ways, linked with the industrialisation of the cutlery industry through the manorial lords, the exploitation of the open countryside for its raw materials and the mechanisation of the mining industry which was to revolutionise the means of production and put Sheffield in front of its rivals for most of the 19th century.

Decline of the Lodge

However, after the estate passed to the Duke of Norfolk in the early 17th century Manor Lodge itself began a steady decline. Much of the lodge building was dismantled in the early 18th century as parkland was discarded in favour of the Norfolk's farming and mining interests. Manor Oaks and Manor Cottage Farms were constructed adjacent to the Lodge - perhaps constructed from reclaimed stone from the lodge. A mine was sunk immediately behind the Lodge and a mining and farming community sprang up inside and adjacent to the ruins. The Turret House became an elegant farmhouse.

Handed to the City

In 1953 The Norfolk estate granted a 999 year lease of the site to the City of Sheffield. Archaeological digs were carried out by the City Museum over the 60s and 70s to uncover more of the sites history. However, a lack of funding eventually meant that it was no longer possible to open the Turret House as a museum and the site remained closed to the general public for a number of years.

Where we are now

In 1995 the Friends of Manor "Castle" group was formed. (Manor Lodge is known affectionately as the "castle" to residents on the Manor.) The group aimed to generate support for restoration work, to develop visitor facilities and manage activities on the site. In 2001 Sheffield Wildlife Trust and Manor and Castle Development Trust (MCDT) joined forces with the Friends of Manor "Castle" to promote a whole site project incorporating Manor Lodge and the two adjacent farms, Manor Oaks and Manor Cottages, creating a total area of 14 hectares.

The Future

In 2003 the Manor Lodge Project Manager was employed to take forward this project and the two farms adjoining the Lodge were purchased by MCDT. Now energies are focussed on obtaining funding from a range of sources to restore and regenerate the site. The Manor Lodge Project Manager is employed by the Green Estate Ltd which is a joint venture between Manor and Castle Development Trust and Sheffield Wildlife Trust. The Green Estate is a social enterprise that manages the green spaces in the Manor and Castle wards of Sheffield for the benefit of local people. The Green Estate's offices are located at Manor Lodge.

The Future

The vision for the site is to bring about the transformation of Sheffield Manor Lodge and its adjacent historical land and buildings to create a new park that brings to life an eight-century story of Sheffield, engaging new audiences in their heritage and substantially contributing to the regeneration of the Manor and Castle estates.

This will be achieved by conserving the scheduled ancient monument and developing interpretation to bring the history of the site to life. Part of the surrounding farmlands will be landscaped to create an attractive and interesting district park for recreational use. The rest of the farmlands will be brought back in to agricultural usage through traditional practices and machinery. Restored farm buildings will be used to house an education and heritage skills training centre. Income to maintain the restored site will be generated by the heritage skills training centre and through a range of small, local enterprises that will be established on the site.

BBC2's Restoration

There are 21 buildings in "Restoration" this year (there were 30 last year), which will be shown over seven programmes, with 3 buildings each programme. Each programme covers a different region, the regions are Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North, Midlands, South East and South West. Sheffield Manor Lodge is in the North region. The other buildings in the North are Gayle Mill in North Yorkshire and Lion Salt Works in Cheshire.

Viewers Vote

Viewers are asked to vote for which building they believe most deserves to win the series and receive approximately £3 million towards its restoration. There will be a regional vote and then a national vote between the winners of each region. When viewers are asked to vote for Sheffield Manor Lodge they are only being asked to vote for funding to be spent on the scheduled ancient monument. This is only a very small part of the project, which covers 14 hectares, and the total cost of the project to restore the whole site is in the order of £10 million.

Media Coverage

"Restoration" went public on Friday 30th April. Sheffield Manor Lodge has been covered by Radio Sheffield, Look North and the local press since then and The Sheffield Star has decided to get behind Sheffield Manor Lodge's campaign to win.

When to Watch

The series will start in July. The programme featuring Sheffield Manor Lodge is to be broadcast on Tuesday 27th July. The final between the winning buildings from each of the seven regions will be held on 8th August.

When to Vote

For the regional vote the phone lines will only be open for a very short period of time. They will be open from 2am on the day that the programme featuring the site is to be broadcast and the phone lines will close at midnight the following day. There will be just one phone number for the regional vote and when you phone you will be given the three options for the three buildings that you can vote for at that time. The buildings that win their region will then be given their own phone number so that viewers can vote for the building they want to win.

Visit Sheffield Manor Lodge

Throughout the year a range of events and activities are held on the site including open days run by the Friends of Manor Castle, volunteer days to help conserve and improve the site, theatrical performances, many other activities. New events are always being added so please keep checking on the web site shown below or call Clare Dykes on 0114 276 2828

Manor Lodge Open Days

July 11th, July 18th, August 1st, August 22nd and September 26th All open days are Sundays and opening times are 11am until 4pm with free guided tours and refreshments for sale throughout the day. Last tour at 3pm.

The open days on June 13th, July 4th, August 22nd and September 26th are run by the Friends of Manor "Castle". If you would like to know more about the Friends of Manor Castle Open Days or to become a member please call Sara Morton on 0114 269 0615

Volunteer Days

These are practical days for people who would like to volunteer to improve this site. Practical days for the year include removing vegetation from the ruins and building dry stone walls, etc
. June 27th, July 11th, September 5th, October 3rd
All dates are Sundays, please call Clare Dykes on 0114 276 2828 for details.

Other events

June 20th The Merchant of Venice performed by Sheffield Youth Theatre (2.30pm start Adults £4 and Children £2) September 26th Food and Farming Event.

How to get involved

If you would like to get involved in the project then please contact Clare Dykes at the Green Estate Company 0114 276 2828. We are always looking for more volunteer guides to help lead tours on open days.

Contact Us

Clare Dykes, Green Estate Company, Manor Lodge, 115 Manor Lane, Sheffield, S2 1UH. 0114 276 2828.
email clare@greenestate.fsnet.co.uk

Sheffield Manor Lodge Websites

www.sheffieldmanorlodge.org.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration

www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/I_love_sy/localhistory/restoration_2004/gallery.shtml"

www.greenestate.co.uk

How to find Sheffield Manor Lodge

Manor Lodge is located just over a mile outside Sheffield City Centre on Manor Lane, off City Road.

By Car:
From Park Square roundabout take the Duke Street exit, signposted to Hyde Park and the City Crematorium. Follow the road up hill through several sets of traffic lights, the road changes name to City Road. You will reach two sets of traffic lights close together. At the second set there is a left between Manor Lodge Primary School and St Aidan's church. This is Manor Lane. Follow this road for a few hundred yards and the ruins of Manor Lodge will "appear" on the horizon to your left.

Pubic Transport:
Buses: 95 and 41 will take you to City Road. Manor Lodge is on Manor Lane just off City Road.

  Pictures copyright jbg