You can discover much more from the Norfolk Heritage Trail by doing the walk with an official guide, get new perspectives and the full fascinating history.
All proceeds go to the Friends of Sheffield Manor Lodge, a registered charity.
The Norfolk Heritage Trail is a walk through centuries of Sheffield history – from the Middle Ages to the modern, via the Tudors, Victorians and two world wars. The trail takes its name from the Dukes of Norfolk, who previously owned much of the land it covers, having inherited it from the Earls of Shrewsbury. It starts at Manor Lodge, which in Tudor times stood at the heart of a huge deer park; what’s left of the historical hilltop lodge today looks out over a bustling city centre. The trail heads downhill into this bustle, ending at Sheffield Cathedral. Along the way it passes through quiet ancient woodland and the rolling green space of one of the country’s oldest public parks. It visits memorials and monuments, reminders of the epidemics and wars that have afflicted Sheffield over the centuries. It tells something of the city’s history of social housing, with quaint Victorian almshouses just around the corner from a post war estate built out of concrete.
It is just under 3 miles in length and takes up to 3 hours to complete (we stop at Norfolk Heritage Park for a toilet break and/or refreshments) – the walk is longer than normal due to frequent stops to point and discuss items of interest. The walk is level to start with and then gradually descends all the way down to the City Centre. There are good footpaths, gentle descents and some steps. Some great views abound.
The walk commences at Sheffield Manor Lodge, where we start with a brief introduction to the walk. A brief outline as to the history of Sheffield Manor Lodge is given, but it is suggested that to do the site justice, one should go on one of the guided walks held there on Sundays from April to September inclusive.
We move on the City Road Cemetery which is full of wildlife as well as historical content. One major piece of history is the graves (alongside each other) of the people killed in the first charabanc (type of coach) accident in Sheffield in the early 1900’s. Even more tragic, one was a small boy.
Rest of the sites we visit, are Norfolk Heritage Park, Clay Wood, Cholera Monument Grounds, Shrewsbury Hospital, Park Hill, Old Queens Head, Sheffield Castle and Cathedral. Each in turn offers a diverse piece of historical content, some natural as well as general. Each one has a story to tell.
The Norfolk family’s connection to Sheffield commenced in the 17th c. and their presence is still here today owning huge swathes of land inherited from the Talbots (Earls of Shrewsbury) when Alathea Talbot married the Duke of Norfolk (Earl of Arundel at that time). They have left their stamp all over Sheffield but none more than the sites we visit on the Norfolk Heritage Trail.
Sheffield Norfolk Park Heritage Trail
Get a new perspective on the walk, by doing it with one of the original guides who helped set it up -David Templeman. David was part of the steering committee, organised by the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust in 2008, to make the walk available to all. This was a self guided walk in essence. David, being a historian, set out to gain much more historical detail on all parts of the walk. This he passes on to everyone who does the walk with him. Everyone is presented with a printed historical guide, on completion. Even if you have done the walk before, without an authorised guide, then why not do it again and see the difference.
The cost of the walk is £5 p.p.-paid on the day. All proceeds go to the Friends of Sheffield Manor Lodge, a registered charity.
All you need to do is sign up for the mailing list for the walk and David will notify you each and every time a walk arises – just book when suitable to you. Register your interest by asking to go on the list by sending an email to the address below.
David Templeman: Email here to sign up to the walk mailing list templeman3@tiscali.co.uk