Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Morpeth Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

In March 2007, ARCUS were commissioned by Brantingham Property Services to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment on a site at Morpeth Street and Meadow Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The assessment was required to support a planning application for redevelopment of the site. The desk-based assessment comprised a site visit, documentary and cartographic research. The site was developed in the early 19th century, with the extension to Meadow Street laid out by 1823, and Morpeth Street added later. The development consisted of back- to-back and terraced housing, some with shops on the ground floor, probably constructed between 1823 and 1832. All the properties fronting onto Meadow Street were in use as shops by 1876. The layout was unchanged until the 1940s, when all the 19th-century buildings were demolished. A plumbers works was built on the Meadow Street side of the site by 1964, with the Morpeth Street frontage remaining undeveloped until the early 21st century, when a three-storey office block was constructed. The extent of sub-surface disturbance caused by the current buildings is unknown, but they are unlikely to have basements. Archaeological investigations at similar sites has revealed substantial remains of cellarage and foundations associated with 19th- century housing, suggesting that there is the potential for the survival of such deposits within the application site, particularly on the street frontages and in the central area. The potential for remains pre-dating the 19th century housing is considered to be low.