Fargate facts for kids
Fargate is a busy street in Sheffield, England. It's a special area just for people walking, not cars. You can find lots of shops here! Fargate connects two other important places: Barker's Pool and High Street. It's also right across from the beautiful cathedral. This street became a pedestrian-only area in 1973, which means it's much safer and nicer for shoppers.
About four times a year, Fargate hosts a fun Continental Market. This market brings stalls from different parts of Europe. You can find all sorts of interesting things there, like tasty cheeses, sweet treats, clothes, plants, and unique crafts such as jewellery and ornaments.
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A Look Back in Time
Long ago, in 1832, a local writer named Joseph Woolhouse described Fargate. He mentioned a special building called the "Lord's House." This elegant old house had a wall around it. It was famous because the Duke of Norfolk, who owned a lot of land in the area, was born there. That's why it was called the Lord's House!
More recently, Fargate was home to the Sheffield Assay Office. This office was very important for checking the quality of precious metals like gold and silver.
Coles Corner: A Famous Meeting Spot
The very end of Fargate, near the cathedral, has a well-known name: Coles Corner. This spot used to be a very popular place for people to meet up in the city. It got its name from the "Cole Brothers" department store that was once in the building there.
The Cole Brothers store moved in 1963. Now, the building is home to different shops and cafes like Pret a Manger, Starbucks Coffee, and Vodafone. There's even a special plaque to remember the old Cole Brothers store. A famous local musician, Richard Hawley, even named an album and song after this iconic meeting place!
Secrets Under Carmel House
In 2005, archaeologists from the University of Sheffield made an exciting discovery under Carmel House on Fargate. They found a medieval well! This well was more than three metres deep and dug into the sandstone rock.
Pottery found inside the well showed that people were using it around the year 1300. It seems the well was filled in during the time of the English Civil War. The pottery included jugs from nearby Doncaster and other items from the Humber Estuary.
This discovery was very important. It gave clues about what Sheffield was like in medieval times. Back then, Sheffield was just a small market town. The well was probably dug around the same time Sheffield Castle was rebuilt in stone (1270) and when King Edward I gave Sheffield its Market Charter in 1296.
Because of the conditions in the well, things like animal bones and tiny plant remains were kept safe. Scientists could then study them to learn more about the past.
Goodwin Fountain
From 1961 to 1998, a fountain called the Goodwin Fountain stood on Fargate. A kind industrialist named Sir Stuart Goodwin and his wife paid for it. It was originally named after Alderman James Sterling, but everyone just called it the Goodwin Fountain, and that name eventually became official. Later, a new fountain with the same name was built in the nearby Peace Gardens.
The Fargate Ferris Wheel
For a few months, Fargate was home to a giant Ferris wheel! This wheel, called the Wheel of Sheffield, was about 173 feet (53 metres) tall. It was put together in just ten days in July 2009. The wheel stayed at the top of Fargate until January 2010. It had 42 gondolas, which are like little cabins, and each one could carry up to eight people. Imagine the amazing views of Sheffield from up there!
