Steel City’s last station still going strong
THIS YEAR, Sheffield Station celebrates 130 years of existence. Opened by the Midland Railway Company (MR) on Tuesday February 1, 1870, it was located on their new line, extending from Sheffield to Chesterfield, which began passenger services on the same day. The opening of the new line caused one newspaper to comment:.. ‘long-deferred hopes have been realised, and the cause of a multitude of petty annoyances and vexations has been removed’.
The annoyances probably existed from May 1840 when the North Midland Railway (taken over by the MR in 1844) built their line from Derby to Leeds, via Rotherham, and missed out Sheffield. To access this route, to travel north or south, a link was provided by the Sheffield & Rotherham Railway between Sheffield and Rotherham. The new 1870 MR line made this unnecessary.
The new Sheffield Station was the last to be built in the city and has been known by various names: Sheffield Pond Street, Sheffield New Midland, Sheffield City, and Sheffield. The first passenger train was allowed to pass over the new line in the early hours of the morning without the slightest ceremony on the concourse. However, from early morning, the approaches to Sheffield station were crowded with people, and a strong police presence was required to prevent them from spilling on to the platforms.
Sheffield Station was designed by MR architect John Holloway Sanders (1825-1884) who was particularly noted for his railway stations on the Settle to Carlisle line, as well as many others.
Sheffield Station was still in the hands of contractors on Monday, the day before the opening, and ‘all was disorder and confusion’, it was reported. The platforms were strewn with building material, the waiting rooms were in the hands of the ‘scrubbing maids’ and the refreshment rooms presented an uninviting appearance. During Tuesday’s opening, there was hustle and bustle as train after train arrived, train after train departed, in quick succession. Run off their feet and their patience stretched, the station staff were barraged by constant inquiries from passengers, running about in bewilderment, seeking the trains they wanted to catch.
The main entrance to Sheffield Station was via a new road from Pond Street as well as a new one from Commercial Street and a thoroughfare from New Haymarket. Initially, the station was 420 feet long with a centre roof of iron with plenty of ventilation. A booking office was placed in the centre of a large entrance hall, one side being devoted to issuing first and second class tickets, and the other side, third class. There was an ample-sized ladies’ first-class waiting room and a similar room for gentlemen. Providing access to platforms was a light iron lattice bridge, with convenient stairways. Chadwick & Thirwell, of Masbro’, were the contractors for the buildings, and Close, Eyre & Nicholson for the iron work.
After enjoying a busy existence for just over 30 years, Sheffield Station was being extended, said one local newspaper in April 1904. Under the direction of chief MRC architect Charles Trubshaw, the work was progressing at great expense. Trubshaw was responsible for many railway station and building designs including the Midland Hotel, Bradford; Leicester railway station; and Bradford Forster Square railway station. The reconstruction of Sheffield Station was supervised by the MR resident engineer, J. Brunton, and the work done by G. Longden & Son of Sheffield.
The purchase of land for widening the permanent way, besides bringing Sheffield Station front nearer to the city, involved heavy outlay. Buildings in front of the station had been demolished, streets widened, and a large space provided, so that the approach was broad and imposing. New buildings erected were of stone to correspond with the older structure.
The station was only widened but lengthened. The new permanent way consisted of four sets of lines in order to cope with increasing traffic from the south, particularly with the opening of the Dore and Chinley railway and other lines. There were additional waiting rooms so that passenger discomfort in winter was reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, offices were built and improvements made to parcel facilities.
Following the closure of Sheffield Victoria railway station in January 1970, Sheffield Station became the main rail facility in the city. One of the named express passenger trains switched from there to Sheffield station was the ‘Master Cutler’ service.
Over the years a number of Kings and Queens and other noted people have visited Sheffield and their arrivals at Sheffield Station have been captured by a number of our photographers.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s last visit together to Sheffield occurred at 2.15pm on Tuesday 25 September 1945, when they arrived at Sheffield Station on their way to open the Ladybower Reservoir. The Royal couple were met by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Coun. G.E. Marlow, who accompanied them.
The official opening of
Sheffield’s monstrous Park Hill flats complex, which had cost approx. £2,600,000, was performed on 16 June 1961 by Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, Hugh Gaitskell (1906-1963). On arrival at Sheffield Station, he was met by Coun. Harold Lambert, chairman of the Sheffield Housing
Development committee. Later, Gaitskell said that Sheffield had done a ‘wonderful job’ and commended the courage, enterprise and determination of the City Council in tackling the problem of redevelopment in the city to provide housing for those who had to find homes.
Following the untimely death of Hugh Gaitskell in January 1963, Harold Wilson, born in Huddersfield on March 11, 1916, became Labour Party Leader. He arrived at Sheffield Station on Saturday June 22, 1963 to speak to a 1,300-strong audience at the annual Yorkshire Labour Women’s Rally held in the City Hall.
On October 29, 1965, former British Railways chairman, Lord Beeching, was seen at Sheffield Station, whilst on his way to open the Tinsley Marshalling Yard and Freight Terminal. A set of pictures exist, from July 29, 1975, of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip at Sheffield Station. The Queen was welcomed by Lord Mayor of Sheffield Coun. Albert Richardson, along with station manager Ralph Tunnicliffe. The Royal couple were embarking on a tour of South Yorkshire. Prince Charles was photographed arriving at Sheffield Station on November 16, 1988 and was greeted by Vice Lord Lt of South Yorkshire, Col. R. Inman. On his visit to the city, Prince Charles spent time in the Leadmill Arts Centre in Leadmill Road.
Train-spotters have regularly found Sheffield Station to be of great interest in both the steam and diesel eras. ‘Special’ trains hauled by steam locomotives draw hoards of enthusiasts to swell the platforms.
Sheffield station’s facilities have been regularly updated and refurbished. It was re-signalled in 1972 and the track layout remodelled; connection was made to the Supertram network in 1994; and a regeneration project was instigated in 2002.
A strong police presence was required to prevent people from spilling on to the platforms.