IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Fornham Street, SHEFFIELD, S2 4AR

An imposing building in an area of otherwise plain industrial architecture. It is grade 2 listed (list entry number 1247419). English Heritage and the Victorian Web differ both as to its date (1849 or 1856) and the significance of the Royal Crest (relating either to its time owned by Wigfall & Sons, or later by Brindley & Foster, organ builders). It is now residential. See also Image

The grand classical facade of this building, with its royal coat of arms, suggests a courthouse or town hall. In fact it was built as a cutlery factory by Thomas Tillotson in 1849, who was succeeded by other industrial occupants - steel and file manufacturers, brush makers, pipe organ builders and automotive engineers. During this time it has acquired a stucco finish and lost its top storey; the coat of arms may have been added around 1870 by William Wigfall & Sons, brushmakers by Royal Appointment. In 2004 it was converted into housing, offices and workshops. A plaque explaining its history is reproduced here: https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/6334-columbia-place/

Built c1836 and looking like an important public building with the royal coat of arms over the entrance which dates from the time it was the premises of William Wuigfall & Sons brush manufacturers 1868/71 and known as Columbia Works with workshop range to rear, now converted into flats.

Details credited to Dave Hitchborne a follow member of Geograph. Columbia Place was built in Classical Revival style by Thomas Tillotson, as a steel and file works in 1849. It was constructed in local brick and sandstone without stucco and originally occupied 3 floors. Thomas Tillotson is listed in trade directories as a merchant and manufacturer of table cutlery; this works probably fed his other works at Cambridge Street. The 1851 Ordnance Survey map shows the main building, which still stands, with the other buildings on site being unattached and much smaller. It appears that Tillotson did not use the entire site, the northern part of the yard being shared with others - all using the name Columbia Works. Thomas Tillotson remained in occupation until 1860 and the works were then occupied by several different companies, all steel and file manufacturers, until 1868, when William Wigfall & Sons, Brush Maker, occupied the building. William Wigfall & Sons, who remained here until 1871, were commissioned by Royal Appointment and it is likely that this is when the Royal Coat of Arms was added to the building. It is not known who occupied the building immediately after 1871, but in 1876 Brindley and Foster, Organ Builders moved in and remained until 1936. Brindley and Foster were renowned organ builders, supplying the organ for the Great Hall of the Royal College of Organists, St. George's Church in Sheffield and many other church organs. It is thought that they were responsible for removing the upper storey of the main building, reducing it to the present 2 floors. In 1938, Holmes & Younie Ltd., Automobile Engineers, moved in and remained until 1973. Subsequently various other vehicle repair and car dealers have occupied the site, including a petrol filling station for part of this period. The main building was Grade II listed in 1973. It was refurbished and the rest of the site developed into housing, live/work units and offices, by Derwent Living, in 2004.

A melancholy ruin. Mid C19th, stuccoed with various trimmings so somebody wanted to show off. W.W. Laycock & Sons Ltd was unsurprisingly engaged in metalwork industries - cutlery or silversmithery perhaps. Further along, another former occupant, Hill Bros (Silversmiths), is painted on the wall (Image]). A sign optimistically proclaims a redevelopment opportunity, underneath which a rather more serious, and lithe, photographer than me was contorting himself to get the best angle.

Laycock's was a silversmith, according to the sign on this derelict building.

Suffolk Road, Sheffield; part of the heritage of the industry of the city.

On Suffolk Road.

Although not derelict, I would not be surprised if these buildings are replaced by yet more student accommodation or upmarket apartments in the next few years as the areas around the city centre become more 'gentrified'. Suffolk Road is now a fast, three-lane road on a one-way system.