Endcliffe Hall
Encyclopedia
Endcliffe Hall is a 19th century 36 room mansion situated on Endcliffe Vale Road in the City of Sheffield
in the suburb of Endcliffe. The hall is situated just over three km west of the city centre and is a Grade II* Listed building.
The present hall was built between the years of 1863 and 1865 by the Sheffield architects Flockton & Abbot
for the Sheffield industrialist John Brown
. Brown had acquired considerable wealth and prestige from the manufacture of armour plate
from Bessemer
steel at his Atlas Works in the city and wanted to build a private residence to reflect his position as one of the Nouveau riche
industrialist of the Victorian Age. It is the largest private residence ever to have been built in Sheffield.
and Sheaf
valleys. It is believed that the first Endcliffe Hall was built in the reign of George II
(1727 - 1760) although Sheffield historian J. Edward Vickers says there may have been an earlier building on the site. The hall was owned from 1818 by the merchant William Hodgson and included 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land and cost £6,700. The hall later passed to Henry Wilkinson, a Sheffield silversmith before being bought by John Brown in August 1860.
Brown had previously lived at the large seven bedroomed house of Shirle Hill in Cherry Tree Road, Nether Edge
and entertained the Prime Minister Lord Palmerston there in 1862. However Brown was looking for a more impressive structure to entertain his visitors and wanted a building that was “…. specially adapted for dispensing hospitalities on a scale worthy of such distinguished visitors”. Brown’s first action on acquiring the building was to pull the old hall down and replace it with the current building which cost £100,000 to build with a further £60,000 spent on the furnishings. Brown was determined to use Sheffield craftsmen during the work on the hall and in addition to the architects Flockton & Abbot he employed local firms such as John Jebson Smith (staircases), Longden & Co. (kitchen stoves), Messrs Craven (ornamental plasterwork), William Gibson (carpentry), Mr Pitt (plumbing and glazing) and John and Joseph Rogers (decorating).
Such was the rarity of such a fine building being erected in Sheffield at that time, that when the hall was finished it was opened to the public for three days attracting huge crowds and much praise with the Sheffield Telegraph
calling it, “the public advantage of personal munificence” in its edition of 24 May 1865. After the death of his wife in 1881, Brown gradually withdrew from public life, his health deteriorated and he spent increasing amounts of time in southern England. John Brown left Endcliffe Hall for the last time in 1892 and sold Endcliffe Hall for £26,000 in 1895 (a year before his death) to Barber Brothers and Wortley for building development. The development never took place and various plans were proposed for the future of the hall, which in the interim hosted exhibitions and dances.
In 1913 the hall was in danger of demolition, then Colonel George Ernest Branson of the 4th Hallamshire Battalion
suggested that the hall could replace the Hyde Park Barracks as the headquarters of the Battalion. The plan was endorsed by the War Office
in January 1914 and the house was sold to the Territorial Army and became the Hallamshire's headquarters. Before the Battalion moved in, a number of alterations were needed these included converting the stables and coach house into a drill hall
. Endcliffe Hall remained the HQ of the Hallamshires until 1968 when the battalion was disbanded. Today the hall and grounds are still owned by the military being the base of the Sheffield detachments of the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment
(TA Reserve) and the 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital. Access to the grounds is limited for the general public as the military are on a constant terrorist security alert.
from ashlar
stonework and has a hipped
slate roof. There are two storeys with plain sash window
s, the main front of the building, which faces west, has a three storey square Belvedere
tower. The hall was designed to be fireproof with concrete floors and iron joists with a large cistern in the tower for domestic use and fire fighting. The ground floor windows were made burglar proof with the use of retractable Belgian made louvred iron shutters. Large mirrors masked the shutters on the interior when closed and threw light back into the room.
.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in the suburb of Endcliffe. The hall is situated just over three km west of the city centre and is a Grade II* Listed building.
The present hall was built between the years of 1863 and 1865 by the Sheffield architects Flockton & Abbot
William Flockton
Flockton's were a series of architectural firms in the 19th and early 20th centuries, based in Sheffield, England. The firms were responsible for a number of significant buildings, particularly in the Sheffield area.-William Flockton:...
for the Sheffield industrialist John Brown
John Brown (industrialist)
Sir John Brown , British industrialist, was born in Sheffield. He was known as the Father of the South Yorkshire Iron Trade....
. Brown had acquired considerable wealth and prestige from the manufacture of armour plate
Vehicle armour
Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets, missiles, or shells, protecting the personnel inside from enemy fire. Such vehicles include tanks, aircraft, and ships....
from Bessemer
Bessemer process
The Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel from molten pig iron. The process is named after its inventor, Henry Bessemer, who took out a patent on the process in 1855. The process was independently discovered in 1851 by William Kelly...
steel at his Atlas Works in the city and wanted to build a private residence to reflect his position as one of the Nouveau riche
Nouveau riche
The nouveau riche , or new money, comprise those who have acquired considerable wealth within their own generation...
industrialist of the Victorian Age. It is the largest private residence ever to have been built in Sheffield.
History
The Endcliffe estate can be traced back to 1333 when John de Elcliffe was awarded a financial grant, at that time the estate extended considerably and took in land between the PorterPorter Brook
The Porter Brook is a river in the City of Sheffield, Englanddescending over 300 metres from its source among the sedge grass on Burbage moor behind a small farm on Hangram just inside the Peak District National Park in the west of the city at Clough Hollow, near the village of Ringinglow...
and Sheaf
River Sheaf
The River Sheaf is a river in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Its source is the union of the Totley Brook and the Old Hay Brook in Totley, now a suburb of Sheffield. It flows northwards, past Dore, through the valley called Abbeydale and north of Heeley...
valleys. It is believed that the first Endcliffe Hall was built in the reign of George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
(1727 - 1760) although Sheffield historian J. Edward Vickers says there may have been an earlier building on the site. The hall was owned from 1818 by the merchant William Hodgson and included 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land and cost £6,700. The hall later passed to Henry Wilkinson, a Sheffield silversmith before being bought by John Brown in August 1860.
Brown had previously lived at the large seven bedroomed house of Shirle Hill in Cherry Tree Road, Nether Edge
Nether Edge
Nether Edge Ward—which includes the districts of Brincliffe, Carter Knowle, Nether Edge, Sharrow Vale, and most of Banner Cross—is one of the 28 electoral wards in the City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the southern part of the city and covers an area of 3.4 km2...
and entertained the Prime Minister Lord Palmerston there in 1862. However Brown was looking for a more impressive structure to entertain his visitors and wanted a building that was “…. specially adapted for dispensing hospitalities on a scale worthy of such distinguished visitors”. Brown’s first action on acquiring the building was to pull the old hall down and replace it with the current building which cost £100,000 to build with a further £60,000 spent on the furnishings. Brown was determined to use Sheffield craftsmen during the work on the hall and in addition to the architects Flockton & Abbot he employed local firms such as John Jebson Smith (staircases), Longden & Co. (kitchen stoves), Messrs Craven (ornamental plasterwork), William Gibson (carpentry), Mr Pitt (plumbing and glazing) and John and Joseph Rogers (decorating).
Such was the rarity of such a fine building being erected in Sheffield at that time, that when the hall was finished it was opened to the public for three days attracting huge crowds and much praise with the Sheffield Telegraph
Sheffield Telegraph
The Sheffield Telegraph is a weekly newspaper published in Sheffield, England.-History:Founded in 1855 as the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, it was the city's first daily newspaper, published at 08:00 each morning. The newspaper struggled until W. C...
calling it, “the public advantage of personal munificence” in its edition of 24 May 1865. After the death of his wife in 1881, Brown gradually withdrew from public life, his health deteriorated and he spent increasing amounts of time in southern England. John Brown left Endcliffe Hall for the last time in 1892 and sold Endcliffe Hall for £26,000 in 1895 (a year before his death) to Barber Brothers and Wortley for building development. The development never took place and various plans were proposed for the future of the hall, which in the interim hosted exhibitions and dances.
In 1913 the hall was in danger of demolition, then Colonel George Ernest Branson of the 4th Hallamshire Battalion
Hallamshire Battalion
The Hallamshire Battalion was part of the York and Lancaster Regiment of the British Army .- History :Formed in 1859 as The Hallamshire Volunteer Rifle Corps with its H.Q. at Sheffield . The title Hallamshire came from the ancient lordship of West Riding comprising the parishes of Sheffield and...
suggested that the hall could replace the Hyde Park Barracks as the headquarters of the Battalion. The plan was endorsed by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
in January 1914 and the house was sold to the Territorial Army and became the Hallamshire's headquarters. Before the Battalion moved in, a number of alterations were needed these included converting the stables and coach house into a drill hall
Drill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
. Endcliffe Hall remained the HQ of the Hallamshires until 1968 when the battalion was disbanded. Today the hall and grounds are still owned by the military being the base of the Sheffield detachments of the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment
Yorkshire Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire covering the historical areas...
(TA Reserve) and the 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital. Access to the grounds is limited for the general public as the military are on a constant terrorist security alert.
Architecture
Endcliffe Hall is built in the Italianate styleItalianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
from ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
stonework and has a hipped
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
slate roof. There are two storeys with plain sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s, the main front of the building, which faces west, has a three storey square Belvedere
Belvedere (structure)
Belvedere is an architectural term adopted from Italian , which refers to any architectural structure sited to take advantage of such a view. A belvedere may be built in the upper part of a building so as to command a fine view...
tower. The hall was designed to be fireproof with concrete floors and iron joists with a large cistern in the tower for domestic use and fire fighting. The ground floor windows were made burglar proof with the use of retractable Belgian made louvred iron shutters. Large mirrors masked the shutters on the interior when closed and threw light back into the room.
Interior
The interior has preserved much of its abundant decorations over the years. The largest room in the house is the 60 ft (18.3 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) saloon which housed John Brown’s art collection and also had an organ at one end. The most important rooms at Endcliffe face south and west to take advantage of the view and the sun. Upstairs there are nine bedrooms including the 22 ft (6.7 m) by 19 ft (5.8 m) State bedroom with a walnut and gilt four poster bedFour poster bed
A four-poster bed is a bed with four vertical columns, one in each corner, that support a tester, or upper panel. There are a number of antique four-poster beds extant dating to the 16th century and earlier; many of these early beds are highly ornate and are made from oak...
.