Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Garden Street and Broad Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

In July 2007, ARCUS were commissioned by Merlin Estates to undertake a desk-based assessment of land at Garden Street and Broad Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (SK 34935 87524). The plot comprises the premises of Imprints at 23 Garden Street and the Sheffield Window Centre at 60-70 Broad Lane. The assessment included a site visit, along with documentary and cartographic research. The desk-based assessment indicates that in 1637, the proposal area was located immediately north of Broad Lane, a route which may have developed as a droveway during the medieval period, when the site itself is likely to have been part of the commons of Sheffields Town Field. There is no evidence relating directly to the proposal area prior to 1736, when it was undeveloped land. However, by 1779 the site contained a number of allotment gardens with associated small sheds. The proposal area had been developed by 1808, although individual structures were not shown until 1853 when the site was occupied by terraced and back-to-back housing. In addition to these domestic properties, retail and small industrial premises were also present within the site by 1876. The 19th-century structures were demolished in 1935 during municipal clearance programmes and were replaced by the present- day buildings. These were constructed in 1935 by John Cooper and Sons Ltd as a single press tool works. Coopers ceased trading in 1976, with the building being sub- divided subsequently into separate Garden Street and Broad Lane premises. It is not clear if the 19th-century buildings contained cellarage, and the extent to which the construction of the 1935 works may have impacted upon any sub-surface deposits relating to the earlier structures is also unknown. If the workshop area of 23 Garden Street was levelled during the sites 20th-century redevelopment this would have destroyed any archaeological deposits that may have been present in this area. Much of the interior of 60-70 Broad Lane may have been landscaped to create a level platform during its 1935 construction. Should that be the case, this may have preserved 19th-century archaeological deposits beneath the present-day floor level. However, it is also possible that basement levels are present in this area. In that case, their construction is likely to have damaged sub-surface deposits associated with the sites 19th-century buildings. This cannot be determined on the basis of the current evidence. Should the decision be taken to demolish the extant structures, further evaluation may be required in order to assess the extent of survival of sub-surface archaeological features and deposits.