History
A Gift to the People of Sheffield
A Gift to the People of Sheffield
Mark Firth, steel manufacturer and Mayor of Sheffield, donated Firth Park to the people of the then town, in 1875. The park was opened in an official ceremony on 16th August 1875 by the Prince of Wales Edward, the future King Edward VII, and his wife Princess Alexandra. It was a very grand affair; a military salute greeted the royal couple on their arrival at the park and 15,000 Sunday School children sang the National Anthem accompanied by military bands.
Mark Firth, steel manufacturer and Mayor of Sheffield, donated Firth Park to the people of the then town, in 1875. The park was opened in an official ceremony on 16th August 1875 by the Prince of Wales Edward, the future King Edward VII, and his wife Princess Alexandra. It was a very grand affair; a military salute greeted the royal couple on their arrival at the park and 15,000 Sunday School children sang the National Anthem accompanied by military bands.
After a prayer said by the Archbishop of York, the deeds of the park were handed over and Mark Firth dedicated it was ‘for ever to the public use and enjoyment of the people’. The Prince declared the park open, a salvo of artillery and fanfare of trumpets followed and cheering from the crowds. The public stayed in their 1000s to enjoy the rest of the day in their new park.
After a prayer said by the Archbishop of York, the deeds of the park were handed over and Mark Firth dedicated it was ‘for ever to the public use and enjoyment of the people’. The Prince declared the park open, a salvo of artillery and fanfare of trumpets followed and cheering from the crowds. The public stayed in their 1000s to enjoy the rest of the day in their new park.
In 1875 the main entrance to the park was by the Clock Tower on the east side; Firth Park Road ended in a turning circle just before the park itself so that carriages could turn around for the return journey home. The Clock Tower housed the Park Keeper’s lodge, rooms for refreshment and a veranda. Where the Ripples is today an ornamental pond stood with ducks and a pair of swans. There was also a very ornate drinking fountain in a stone basin with a copper-faced drinking cup. Where the First Start building and main entrance is now, stood the North Lodge, like the Clock Tower, designed by Flockton & Abbot.
In 1875 the main entrance to the park was by the Clock Tower on the east side; Firth Park Road ended in a turning circle just before the park itself so that carriages could turn around for the return journey home. The Clock Tower housed the Park Keeper’s lodge, rooms for refreshment and a veranda. Where the Ripples is today an ornamental pond stood with ducks and a pair of swans. There was also a very ornate drinking fountain in a stone basin with a copper-faced drinking cup. Where the First Start building and main entrance is now, stood the North Lodge, like the Clock Tower, designed by Flockton & Abbot.
Grand Days Out
Grand Days Out
Until fairly recently, Whit Sing events with huge crowds, were held in the park. Sunday Schoolers, their friends and families would gather to parade their Chapel banners and sing, and later watch the Queen of the May being crowned. Musical concerts were held in the ornate Bandstand; on Summer evenings it would be lit by hundreds of lamps. No one knows exactly when the Bandstand was removed; it’s thought to be sometime in the late 1960s early 70s. Recently the University of Sheffield’s Archaeology department excavated the site and found the Bandstand foundations still intact and old bottles and clay pipes once used by the crowds that gathered around it to listen to performances.
Until fairly recently, Whit Sing events with huge crowds, were held in the park. Sunday Schoolers, their friends and families would gather to parade their Chapel banners and sing, and later watch the Queen of the May being crowned. Musical concerts were held in the ornate Bandstand; on Summer evenings it would be lit by hundreds of lamps. No one knows exactly when the Bandstand was removed; it’s thought to be sometime in the late 1960s early 70s. Recently the University of Sheffield’s Archaeology department excavated the site and found the Bandstand foundations still intact and old bottles and clay pipes once used by the crowds that gathered around it to listen to performances.
1900s and Onwards
1900s and Onwards
In 1908 the Firth Park Bowling Club was established with crown bowling greens, to add to the football and cricket areas, and in 1909 Hinde Common Wood, the wood below the old library building, was purchased and added to the park, now 36 acres. Firth Park is basically unchanged although, like the Bandstand, some of those early features are long gone. The Clock Tower building is now Grade ll listed but is not the focal point of the park anymore. The main entrance was transferred in 1949 to one nearer the roundabout in the centre of the area, and a rose garden and children’s playground followed. A new pavilion for the Bowling Club was built and opened in 1961. The pond, used in the 1960s for model ship regattas, was drained and fell into disrepair. In the early 2000s the First Start building and the Ripples project rejuvenated the park, along with a multi-use games area, new playground and a café.
In 1908 the Firth Park Bowling Club was established with crown bowling greens, to add to the football and cricket areas, and in 1909 Hinde Common Wood, the wood below the old library building, was purchased and added to the park, now 36 acres. Firth Park is basically unchanged although, like the Bandstand, some of those early features are long gone. The Clock Tower building is now Grade ll listed but is not the focal point of the park anymore. The main entrance was transferred in 1949 to one nearer the roundabout in the centre of the area, and a rose garden and children’s playground followed. A new pavilion for the Bowling Club was built and opened in 1961. The pond, used in the 1960s for model ship regattas, was drained and fell into disrepair. In the early 2000s the First Start building and the Ripples project rejuvenated the park, along with a multi-use games area, new playground and a café.
Links
Links
The photos on this page are from Sheffield Library's Picture Sheffield collection. Check out the website here http://www.picturesheffield.com/
The photos on this page are from Sheffield Library's Picture Sheffield collection. Check out the website here http://www.picturesheffield.com/
Text and information is taken from Firth Park, Heritage Park, Sheffield's First Public Park, a leaflet available in the First Start building.
Text and information is taken from Firth Park, Heritage Park, Sheffield's First Public Park, a leaflet available in the First Start building.
The Yorkshire Film Archive has a film featuring some of Sheffield's parks and gardens, including Firth Park, from 1964. It's available to view online here http://www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com/film/sheffield-parks-and-gardens
The Yorkshire Film Archive has a film featuring some of Sheffield's parks and gardens, including Firth Park, from 1964. It's available to view online here http://www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com/film/sheffield-parks-and-gardens