The Gardens were first laid out in 1938, following the demolition of St Paul's Church. Originally named St Paul's Gardens, they were immediately nicknamed the "Peace Gardens", marking the contemporary signing of the Munich Agreement. The Gardens were originally intended to be replaced by an extension to the Town Hall, but due to World War II, this was never built. In 1985, the space was formally renamed the "Peace Gardens". In 1997 work commenced to remove the former St Pauls graveyard, and the whole space was re-modelled. Water features and a central fountain were introduced, with the channels representing the rivers of Sheffield.
The "topping out ceremony" was carried out by Prince Charles, and a plaque on Pinstone Street was unveiled to mark this event. The Peace Gardens were substantially completed by the end of 1998, then the Sheffield Millennium Galleries works commenced and the old egg-box council offices were then demolished. This allowed the remainder of the Peace Gardens to be completed in a second phase, which is also known as Millennium Square.
Want more Sheffield retro? Life on Sheffield’s trains in pictures from the 1950s
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1. A view in the rain
A rainy view of Sheffield Town Hall from Norfolk Street in July 1965 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
2. new flats
A new view is opened now that demolition on Norfolk Street, Sheffield is complete. This view with St Paul's Gardens flowerbeds in the foreground and the Sheffield Polytechnic and skyscraper flats on the Clay Wood are (Next to Parkhill flats) helped to make a new and pretty view in July 1972. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
3. Soaking up the sun
The fountains in front of the Sheffield Town Hall extension in August 1981 where two people can be seen soaking up the sun in the Peace Gardens Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
4. The Egg Box
A view to the 'egg box' from across the Peace Gardens in 1995 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers