Stunning pictures give rare glimpse into Sheffield's smog-filled industrial past

These newly unearthed pictures give a rare glimpse into Sheffield's smog-filled industrial past.
Smog-filled city. Picture: Estate of Jack CorbeySmog-filled city. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey
Smog-filled city. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey

The images are from a collection believed to span from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Some of the pictures are said to illustrate the construction of the original Co-operative store on Castle Hill and Castle Market between 1928 and 1930.

Industrial landscape. Picture: Estate of Jack CorbeyIndustrial landscape. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey
Industrial landscape. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey
Read More
VIDEO: Confusing crossing branded Sheffield’s most dangerous is ‘accident waitin...
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Corbey explained that they had been found in family archives and had belonged to her late father-in-law Jack Corbey, who found time to take the snaps while working as an electrician at the site.

During building work it is believed they discovered remains of the former medieval Sheffield Castle, which was destroyed at the end of a Civil War siege in the 17th century.

The unearthing of the pictures is also timely as excavation work by archaeologists got under way at the Castlegate site this week in a bid to discover more about both the castle and the site's later industrial past.

Workmen at Castlegate. Picture: Estate of Jack CorbeyWorkmen at Castlegate. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey
Workmen at Castlegate. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey

"The clocktower of the Old Town Hall on Waingate can be clearly seen on two of the rooftop images, as can buses or trams on Lady's Bridge with Tennants brewery and the chimneys lining the River Don in the direction of Kelham Island below.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We are hoping readers might be able to identify some of the workmen on the photographs."

Just a decade after opening, the flagship Co-operative store was badly damaged in the Blitz in 1940.

Castlegate. Picture: Estate of Jack CorbeyCastlegate. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey
Castlegate. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey

A new department store was opened in nearly Castle House in the early 1960s.

Ambitious plans have recently been revealed to open a food hall inside part of it and for other floors to be used as a hub for digital businesses.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Castle Market was demolished in 2016 which paved the way for the archaeological dig started this week.

The old clocktower. Picture: Estate of Jack CorbeyThe old clocktower. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey
The old clocktower. Picture: Estate of Jack Corbey

Initial plans are being drawn up for the future of the old market site, which is set to include more green areas as well as pedestrianised zones.

*Do you recognise any of the workmen in the pictures? Email [email protected]