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| The south arcade |
When entering Sheffield Cathedral through the C20 entrance, which was remodelled by Thomas Ford and Partners as part of the Gateway Project, the large open space of the narthex dominates the interior and there is no suggestion of its mediaeval origins.
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| A general view of the nave and arcades |
Looking down the nave, which was rebuilt in 1880 by Flockton and Gibbs, the Perpendicular Gothic style arcades have tall plain octagonal piers with crenellated capitals. The masonry above has an odd mixture of sandstones which look aged and in some cases blackened, which suggests that these have been recycled from the pre-existing structure.
In the south aisle wall, there are again various sandstones that look typical of the Coal Measures rather than the Millstone Grit, including many blocks that look very much like Rotherham Red sandstone – a very distinctive stone that occurs in several manors held by William de Lovetot. Many have tool marks with various patterns, and others have remnants of limewash, which again indicates that this is also reused masonry.
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| Various sandstones in the south aisle wall |
In the south aisle wall, there are again various sandstones that look typical of the Coal Measures rather than the Millstone Grit, including many blocks that look very much like Rotherham Red sandstone – a very distinctive stone that occurs in several manors held by William de Lovetot. Many have tool marks with various patterns, and others have remnants of limewash, which again indicates that this is also reused masonry.
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| Ancaster limestone flooring |
Throughout the cathedral, there is no York stone flooring and there is now only Ancaster Hard White limestone, which was installed in 2013; however, the occasional inscribed slab is incorporated into the modern floor and these would have undoubtedly been quarried locally from the Brincliffe Edge Rock.
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| A general view of the crossing |
The crossing is Perpendicular Gothic and is one of the few parts that remain from the church that was rebuilt c.1430. It has four large compound piers, with decoration that includes foliage, a face and a green man.
Unlike the external fabric, which is built in very coarse grained Rivelin Grit, it uses Coal Measures sandstone, which has Liesegang rings and would have been quarried from a local source.
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| A Coal Measures sandstone column with Liesegang rings |
Unlike the external fabric, which is built in very coarse grained Rivelin Grit, it uses Coal Measures sandstone, which has Liesegang rings and would have been quarried from a local source.
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| Masonry in St. Katherine's Chapel |
The east end of the church has the most interesting features, with the C15 walls of St. Katherine’s Chapel and the sanctuary consisting of very irregularly sized and shaped blocks, with a high proportion of flat stones that are common in the Brincliffe Edge Rock.
This part of the church is not accessible to the public but, looking closely, this walling is seen to contain numerous fragments of carved masonry that has been salvaged from the previous C12 church, including chevrons and other mouldings.
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This part of the church is not accessible to the public but, looking closely, this walling is seen to contain numerous fragments of carved masonry that has been salvaged from the previous C12 church, including chevrons and other mouldings.
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| A monument with sculptures by Francis Chantrey |
On the north wall of the sanctuary, there is a large late Georgian monument built in medium grained gritstone of a very uniform buff colour, with trefoil headed arcades set on two levels. The niches to the upper arcade contain white marble busts that commemorate various vicars and which were carved by Francis Chantrey of Norton.
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| The monument to the 4th Earl of Shrewsbury |
Between the chancel and the Shrewsbury Chapel, which was built in 1538 with large blocks of ashlar masonry, the wall incorporates a monument to the 4th Earl of Shrewsbury – with alabaster effigies set on a chest that could be Purbeck Marble and with the surrounding flat topped panelled arch looking like Magnesian Limestone.
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| The memorial to the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury |
On the opposite side of the chapel, there is the large standing monument to the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, with the effigy showing him in full armour. It is constructed mainly in alabaster, which is probably from Tutbury in Staffordshire, and has columns and panels of Ashford Black Marble.
Various other memorials are scattered on the walls of Sheffield Cathedral but the one that caught my eye was the memorial to the members of the police force and the fire brigade who lost their lives during the Great War.
One interesting feature is virtually hidden from public view, in a small atrium at the rear of the café. Here, several escutcheons have been salvaged from a previous structure and hung on the walls but there is no information about them.
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| The effigy of the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury |
Various other memorials are scattered on the walls of Sheffield Cathedral but the one that caught my eye was the memorial to the members of the police force and the fire brigade who lost their lives during the Great War.
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| The memorial to members of the police force and fire brigade |
One interesting feature is virtually hidden from public view, in a small atrium at the rear of the café. Here, several escutcheons have been salvaged from a previous structure and hung on the walls but there is no information about them.
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| Salvaged escutcheons |
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