01-10-2020, 07:01 PM
In the early 1990s construction started on the Sheffield Supertram network, phase two of which saw excavations at this spot in the photo, and off to the right into Church St across the Cathedral frontage. This necessitated the removal of the pre existing tram lines from the 1900s. Normally this would have been reasonably simple, apart from deplacing any existing services but early excavations revealed a large number of hitherto unknown graves from the 18th century and earlier. Apparently it was expensive to have a relative buried in the hallowed ground belonging to the Cathedral so it was often the case for people to be buried just outside. The guy making the firrst cut with his excavator had a very traumatic day when the bucket of his JCB took the lids off several coffins revealing the occupants. This then resulted in a massive security operation to seal the area as typhus and cholera were potentially still active given the ages of the deceased. Eventually a large number were exhumed and reinterred in a cemetery on Langsett Rd.
The other road, behind the PC on point duty is called Fargate and in mediaeval times was the location of one of the gates into the city walls. Fargate is now pedestrianised but most of the buildings remain. Coles corner however was redeveloped in the 1960s.
The other road, behind the PC on point duty is called Fargate and in mediaeval times was the location of one of the gates into the city walls. Fargate is now pedestrianised but most of the buildings remain. Coles corner however was redeveloped in the 1960s.