Barker's Pool

Barker's Pool is a public plaza and street in the centre of the City of Sheffield, England. The focus of Barker's Pool is the Grade II listed 90 foot tall First World War memorial that was unveiled on 28 October 1925 [English Heritage (1995) [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=2&id=455365 First World War Memorial 25m south of City Hall, Barker's Pool.] "Images of England" (accessed 22 January 2006—free registration required).] . The Grade II* listed Sheffield City Hall [English Heritage (1981) [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=2&id=455364 City Hall.] "Images of England" (accessed 22 January 2006—free registration required).] is on the north side of the plaza facing a branch of the John Lewis Partnership, formerly Cole Brothers to the South.

History

One of the earliest known references to Barker's Pool comes from the records of the Burgery of Sheffield for 1570. [cite book |title=The Records of the Burgery of Sheffield: Commonly Called the Town Trust |last=Leader |first=John Daniel |year=1897 |publisher=Elliot Stock |location=London |pages=p. 25 ] The name "Barker's Pool" may derive from a "Barker of Balme" mentioned in a deed dating from 1434. [cite book |last=Hunter |first=Joseph |authorlink=Joseph Hunter (antiquarian) |title=Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York |year=1819 |publisher=Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones |location=London |pages=p. 126 ] At this time the area was known as Balm Green and was on the edge of the town. Sheffield historian Sidney Addy suggests that the name "Balm Green" indicates that this site was formerly used for the cultivation of the herb lemon balm. [cite book |last=Addy |first=Sidney Oldall |title=A Glossary of Words Used in the Neighbourhood of Sheffield. Including a Selection of Local Names, and Some Notices of Folk-Lore, Games, and Customs |year=1888 |publisher=Trubner & Co. for the English Dialect Society |location=London ()]

The reservoir was reconstructed and extended by Robert Rollinson before 1631, [cite book |title=Sheffield in the Eighteenth Century |last=Leader |first=Robert Eadon |year=1901 |publisher=Sheffield Independent Press |location=Sheffield |pages=pp. 152–157 ] and was demolished in 1793 when a new reservoir was constructed nearby [Olive, Martin (1994). Barker's Pool and Townhead. In "Images of England: Central Sheffield", pp85–94. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7524-0011-8] .

In addition to supplying drinking water, the location of Barker's Pool at the the highest point in the town allowed water released from the reservoir to be guided through channels that ran along the centre of the town's streets:

Terraced properties and shops which once occupied one side of the square were demolished in 1912 to make way for the Albert Hall Cinema which opened the following year, but was destroyed by fire in 1936. The Regent Cinema continued at the same site, later to become the Gaumont (this has also since been demolished). Other terraced properties and shops at the other side of the square were demolished around 1923 to make way for the construction of the Sheffield City Hall, which opened in 1932. [cite book |title=Do You Remember Old Sheffield |publisher=Mail Graphic |location=974 Abbeydale Rd, Sheffield |]

In 2005 work began to upgrade the square, beginning with the installation of two glass-cased fountains outside the City Hall. This has now been completed, with the fountains fully operational and illuminated at night, as well as several seated areas which are also lit in colours which match the ground lighting of the nearby Millennium Square, near the Peace Gardens. The square itself has been relaid in Yorkshire stone. The renovation won Gold in the 2006 Town Centre Environment Awards [ [http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=1912 info in BCSC award from Sheffield City Council website] ] , run by the BCSC, held on November 7 2006 in Manchester. Barkers Pool was one of two projects in Sheffield City Centre to be nominated, the other being the Station gateway at Howard Street.

Future Developments

The area is earmarked to be developed as part of Sevenstone, which will see a new John Lewis store being built on the site of the current fire station, and the current one at the north of Barkers Pool demolished to make way for two new building, including a large four-floor department store, to be let as a single unit.

References

ee also

Sheffield City Centre