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BBC News
13-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
The legacy of Sheffield's at-risk millennium icon
A former music museum labelled 'at risk' has been described as an "extremely unusual and distinctive piece of architecture" that represents the city of National Centre for Popular Music has most recently been used as Sheffield Hallam University's student union building, but was cited as "extremely vulnerable" following news the union was Twentieth Century Society included the landmark on its national list of buildings vulnerable to neglect, dereliction or demolition, but the university said it had no plans for demolition and was exploring alternative work began on the four 'kettles' in 1997 and it opened in 1999 as a millennium the National Lottery-funded attraction closed 17 months later after it failed to attract enough visitors. In 2002 it was sold to Yorkshire Forward and a year later to the university. Helen Jackson was chair of employment for economic development when the design process began, and Hillsborough MP when the museum says the design was part of regeneration plans for the city, following a rise in unemployment rates caused by a decline in industry across South Yorkshire."It represents a period when Sheffield were doing some very unusual and, in a way, imaginative work to counter the dreadful situation for the city because of the closure of so many of the steel plants and ensuing unemployment," she says."We aimed to get industries going that were helpful and welcoming for young people in the city and we chose pop music because The Human League and other groups were very popular at that time."The four 'kettles' were based on kettle drums and were covered in Sheffield steel to connect the design to the city's heritage."It didn't last that long but it was a symbol of Sheffield," says Jackson."It was not the thing that city councils do these days, they don't sadly have the imagination or cash to do this sort of thing, but we were proud of it and it was part of a regeneration package that was going to help alleviate unemployment."The policy to encourage the music industry in the city also led to the creation of Red Tape Studios and The Showrooms – both of which remain remembers a time when the plans for the venues were put forward to the city council's treasurer by none other than Sheffield band The Human League."I vividly remember a meeting about Red Tape Studios," she says."We had invited members of The Human League and they wandered in looking uncouncillor-like, in sandals, and joined us in trying to persuade the council treasurer who was a bit iffy about the whole thing."The treasurer said: 'I don't know about the money' and the band chipped in 'we can help with that', and so the ratepayers were saved." In 1989, Simon Gedye, now chair of Sheffield Civic Trust, had just arrived in Sheffield and was working as an architect."There was very little investment in the city," he says."The city was struggling with design quality, so this was an important building at the time. It summed up a time of optimism and New Labour, the designer also worked on the Millennium Dome."Mr Gedye created a team and submitted architectural plans for The National Centre for Popular Music, but after being shortlisted he lost out to Nigel Coates who won the commission and went on to create the 'kettles'."Nigel Coates was the most prominent gay architect of his generation," says Mr Gedye."He's an interesting architect and a lot of his work was fairly ephemeral. So there's not much of his built work left, so this is an important building of his and for the city."There was a lot of National Lottery funding so there was huge change."There was a number of projects in South Yorkshire - Magna, the Earth Centre - and this was one of them, and they were ambitious in terms of their design and quality and in terms of what they were trying to do." 'Amazing and jewel-like' Today, from his perspective of chair of Sheffield Civic Trust, Mr Gedye says the "iconic" building is an "important part of our built heritage"."We're in the business of promoting everything that's of quality in terms of architecture and public art in the city."We've been concerned about what was the National Centre of Popular Music building because it is iconic."It's an extremely unusual and distinctive piece of architecture. We've had a lot of discussion and concern that when Hallam University were moving their student union out it might be a risk to that building."There are a number of buildings of this age that are slightly under the age for listing by Historic England, which are changing and are at risk from not being protected."The group has now put in a local listing application for the building in a bid to ensure its says: "It's a very beautifully detailed piece of architecture. To some degree it has been obscured by its use as the student union because they've applied lots of film to the exterior of the building but it's a very clear and beautiful building internally."I've no doubt some people look at that building and say its ugly. It is stained at the moment but when it's cleaned and when you see the photographs of it new, it looked amazing and jewel-like." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
London's first Roman basilica found under office basement
A discovery underneath the basement of an office block has been described as one of the most important pieces of Roman history unearthed in the city of have found a substantial piece of the ancient city's first basilica - a 2,000 year old public building where major political, economic and administrative decisions were excavation has so far revealed sections of stone wall that formed the base of the basilica, which would have been two-and-half storeys site, which will eventually be opened to the public, sheds light on the city's beginnings. "This is so significant - this is the heart of Roman London," said Sophie Jackson, from the Museum of London Archaeology (Mola), who revealed the new find exclusively to BBC News. "This building will tell us so much about the origins of London, why London grew and why it was chosen as the capital of Britain. It's just amazing." The site was discovered at 85 Gracechurch Street, an office building that's about to be demolished and archaeological investigations revealed the ancient basilica's approximate location, so the team created several small test pits to see what was hidden beneath the concrete floor. On the third attempt, digging between the filing cabinets, they struck lucky."You can see a huge chunk of Roman masonry, and it's incredible that it survives this well. We're absolutely thrilled that there's so much of it here," said Sophie Jackson. The wall is made from a type of limestone from Kent, and formed an imposing building - the basilica would have been about 40m long, 20m wide and 12m high. Other artefacts have been found too, including a roof tile imprinted with the stamp of an official from the ancient city. The basilica was part of London's forum, a social and commercial hub with a courtyard that was about the size of a football pitch."The basilica is the town hall, and then in front of it was a big open market square with a range of shops and offices around the outside," explained Ms Jackson."It's the place you came to do business, to get your court case sorted out, it's where laws were made, and it's where decisions were made about London, but also about the rest of the country."It was built around 80 AD, just a few decades after the Romans invaded Britain and founded Londinium - the Roman name for the the first basilica and forum were only in use for about 20 years. They were replaced by a much larger second forum, perhaps reflecting how quickly the city was growing in size and importance. The discovery has meant a change of plans for the building's owners, Hertshten Roman remains, which will now be fully excavated, are to be incorporated into the new offices - pending planning approval - and opened up to the the architects, redesigning a building around an archaeological site has had some technical challenges."The scheme has been comprehensively adjusted," explained James Taylor from architecture firm Woods Bagot."Simple things like the columns have had to literally move position, so you're not destroying all these special stones that we found in the ground."And so as not to disturb what's there, fewer lifts can now be installed - and this has meant that the team has had to reduce the height of the Mr Taylor said the effort will be worth it. "To actually see people using and enjoying the space, moving through the public hall and down to see the remains, will be absolutely incredible." This is the latest piece of Roman history to be discovered lying beneath the streets of London's Square Mile. And there's a growing effort to find innovative ways to show these sites to the of an amphitheatre are on display under a glass floor at the Guildhall Art Gallery, and at Bloomberg's offices, people can visit the Temple of Mithras, which has been brought to life with an immersive sound and light Hayward from the City of London Corporation says he wants more people to experience the link between the past and the present."The fact that Roman London is beneath your feet is, frankly, quite a remarkable emotion to experience," he said."You can actually see and visualise how Roman London would have been in those times. And then you can walk outside and you can say, 'now look at the skyscrapers, now look at the office blocks', this is progress, but at the same time, progress combined with preservation."
