Shock decision to allow demolition of Clifford School

We were absolutely astonished by the appalling decision last November to grant permission to demolish most of the historic Clifford School on Psalter Lane. The proposal is to demolish the whole of the Sunday School to the rear, leaving only the smaller school building in front – and that will be ruined by extensions that are larger than the school itself!

After the debacle of the recent loss of three historic buildings – the Market Tavern, Wiley and Co’s façade and the Coroners Court, Sheffield looks set to lose yet another one and no one seems to care – least of all the Council. The little-known Clifford School has survived on Psalter Lane since it was built in 1832 and sits in a Conservation Area.

One of the reasons given to allow this demolition is the possibility that the owner could leave it unused which would result in its deterioration. This opens the door for any owner to suggest they might just leave their building empty so as to ensure demolition would be granted. A very dangerous approach and certainly not a good enough reason to allow demolition of any building regardless of its age or importance. If that is the Council’s attitude, then wave goodbye to the Old Town Hall, Citadel and numerous other buildings that their owners have chosen to neglect.

Clifford School was built and paid for by one of Sheffield’s most unsung philanthropists – Joseph Wilson of snuff making fame. The school was built on land belonging to ‘Clifford’ which was the name of the Wilson family residence – hence its name. The building actually has group value with Sharrow Snuff Mills, Westbrook Snuff Mill and Westbrook House and no doubt due to its proximity Mr Wilson would have walked to work.

In 1884 a Sunday School was added and the famous Sheffield architect Edward Holmes was involved. He was also partially responsible for many of our City’s quality buildings including The Lyceum and five of Sheffield’s Board Schools, which are of national importance. The new Sunday School was financed entirely by the parishioners of St Andrew’s Church which has sadly since been demolished. In 1896 a link building was added and all three buildings have remained remarkably intact and retain many original features.

Clifford was also where Arnold Loosemore, awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War (Sheffield’s only recipient in that conflict) and also the Distinguished Conduct Medal, was educated. His achievement and memory were (and still are) much honoured by pupils at the school who formed an honour guard at his funeral in 1924.

It is tragic that we are about to lose such an interesting piece of history and it is a disgrace that Sheffield Planning in nodding through its demolition has ignored the advice of the Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group.

The Council has allegedly adopted a Heritage Strategy and in the draft Local Plan For Sheffield is trying to develop a reputation for valuing its heritage assets. This is obviously not to be. At the same time that Planning were giving the all-clear for its destruction, another part of the Council was recommending Clifford School’s addition to the Local Heritage List. It would be funny if it were not so deplorable.

Part of the building will be saved and the developers have laughingly used this as a ‘benefit’ for destroying the rest of it. Four dwellings will be crammed onto the site and it begs the question – do we really need an extra four houses just to boost the housing figures at the expense of losing yet another heritage asset?

Please think again.