Sheffield Train Station

As I travel up to Sheffield often to see my girlfriend, I thought that while I was up there that I would start exploring the building and architecture which Sheffield holds. The first building which I would like to talk about is Sheffield’s train station, a building which I use each and every time I go to and from Sheffield.

Sheffield train station (also known as Midland Railway Station) is a Grade II listed Victorian building originally built in 1870 but refurbished by architect Charles Trubshaw in 1905 (Landow, 2014). Charles Trubshaw was a Midland architect, raised by a family of architects, was best known for his work as architect for the Northern Division Midland Railway Stations in 1874 (Davies, 2010).

The station itself has some interesting features such as the iron-glass roof (Fig 1) in the main atrium and refurbished front facades mirrored glass (Fig 2) and finally the walkway linking Park Hill behind the station, the platforms and Sheaf Square in front. However the station building is not what I find most interesting; for me the combination of context of the Victorian Station building and the 2010 refurbishment of Sheaf Square in front of the station. 

Fig 1. Iron-Glass Roof (Bagnall, 2014)

Fig 2. Front Facade (Bagnall 2014)

As I have only been in Sheffield over the past two years I had not seen for myself what the original square was like, however looking at photographs of the past square the refurbishment has brought new life back into the entrance of Sheffield. The square has been transformed from a flat concrete field to this guided path leading from the station, up Owen Hill into the heart of the city. 

Fig 3. Sheaf Square (Bagnall, 2014)

The new design of the square still has some of the original, open concrete areas however the addition of two large water features adds a new dynamic to Sheaf Square. On one side of the square there is a stepped flow of water leading towards the bottom of the square into a large water fountain; however I much prefer the converging metal wall with pouring water opposite. Together the water features create an elegant path up towards the city centre (Fig 4). This modern feature is very diverse compared to that of the old Victorian station building, producing a very memorable and distinctive setting.

Fig 4. Sheaf Square and Sheffield Train Station (Bagnall, 2014)

Bibliography

Fig 1. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Iron and Glass Roof of Sheffield Station. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Station Front Façade. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.

Fig 3. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Sheaf Square. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.           

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Sheaf Square and Sheffield Railway Station. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.

Davies, M. (2014). Charles Trubshaw, Architect | The Midland Hotel - Bradford. [online] Bradfordmidlandhotel.com. Available at: http://www.bradfordmidlandhotel.com/charles-trubshaw-architect [Accessed 15th January. 2014].

Living Rail, (2014). Sheffield Station Gateway. [online] Available at: http://81.47.175.201/livingrail/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=665:sheffield-station-gateway&catid=29:rail-terminals&Itemid=102 [Accessed 15th January. 2014].

Landow, G. (2011). The Midland Railway Station (now East Midland) at Sheffield (1874). [online] Victorianweb.org. Available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/technology/railways/82.html [Accessed 15th January. 2014].