Are there any definitive guides to what medieval Sheffield looked like? I cant find any maps that date much before 1700.....anyone know?

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Are there any definitive guides to what medieval Sheffield looked like? I cant find any maps that date much before 1700.....anyone know?

The earliest I have found is the 1736 Gosling map.

http://www.sheffieldfhs.org.uk/data/graphics/gosling_map.gif

Did Sheffield originally have a City wall like York?

Mediaeval is defined as from 600 AD to 1500 AD. During most of that period Sheffield was never much more than a village, so didn't warrant a surrounding wall. The nucleus of the village would have been the church, which is now the Cathedral. There is a small section of wall behind the altar which is believed to date to the Saxon period. I've never seen any guides or maps of the period , probably because Sheffield didn't warrant any interest from the rest of the country, and wasn't even on any major routes. The earliest picture I've seen is a modern artist's impression of the castle. The original castle was built of wood and was burned down, along with much of what was then descrbied as 'the town' in 1266. The king gave permission for it to be rebuilt in stone in 1270, and its this castle the picture represents. This formed the nucleus of the castle that was extended over the years and stood until Cromwell ordered it demolished.

This quite an interesting page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sheffield

Its a pity there is no map of the original SHeffield before it was 'important' with the bullding of the stone version of the Castle. I wonder if enough records exist in other forms to enable it possible to construct a map say from 1200/1300 time....I would be extremely interested to see how this fitted into the present day map and what causeways/roads were still in evidence from the original medieval features. But as it was so unimportant really at that time, compared to the likes of York or Nottingham, etc, I guess this will be virtually impossible now.

In 1986 G Scurfield produced a map showing Sheffield and its environs in 1637 which was based on old maps and documents. Still not mediaeval but closer!

Scurfield G. 17th century Sheffield and its environs. Yorkshire Archaeology Jnl 58 p147-171 1986. Available at Sheffield Library
(PS If Algy sees this can you see my reply of 31/10 to the thread on Information about Roman Era Sheffield)

This map is available on line just put 1637 sheffield in your search.

Originally posted by Bookmaster
In 1986 G Scurfield produced a map showing Sheffield and its environs in 1637 which was based on old maps and documents. Still not mediaeval but closer!

Scurfield G. 17th century Sheffield and its environs. Yorkshire Archaeology Jnl 58 p147-171 1986. Available at Sheffield Library
(PS If Algy sees this can you see my reply of 31/10 to the thread on Information about Roman Era Sheffield)
Hi Bookmaster, yes I did see your reply and tried to PM you, but I guess you've still got less than 5 postings so you can't use the PM system yet. As soon as you can, PM me.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by retep
This map is available on line just put 1637 sheffield in your search.

Cant find it, can you give a URL for this old map online?

Try this I should have put 1637 map Sheffield

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~exy1/maps.html

These maps are wonderful.

I reckon we should revert to calling High Street (boring name) Priorgate (much more interesting).

Can you imagine all the free parking and no traffic lights whatsoever?!

does anyone know of Tinsley Manor or its whereabouts.It dates back to around 1200AD,of the Tinsley family.