Hello everyone, and a warm welcome to our newest residents.

There are exciting times ahead as we have been very busy organising the Park Hill Residents' Party, and we are pleased to announce this will take place on Saturday 6th August 2022, from 3pm to 6pm, on the open space adjacent to Phase 1 car parks.

This will be Your Party, so we hope to see as many of you there as possible. There will be free food and refreshments available, and we are asking any residents who want a stall to sell their wares, such as plants, crafts or baked goods, to get in touch with the committee as soon as possible using the email address summerparty2022@parkhill.estate. We will also need volunteers to marshal the event as well as first aiders, so this would be a perfect opportunity for us all to meet our neighbours and share ideas! There is lots still in the planning stage for this event, so expect a flyer through your doors soon with further information.

In other news, we are also planning a residents' meeting within the next month or so, so please keep an eye on the noticeboards and communal areas for updates about this.

Finally, the committee is in need of new members, in particular in the role of Secretary, to help maintain this strong and vibrant community of Park Hill, so please do reach out if you are able to help. 

Tamara and Kay H. (Chair and Treasurer)

[Image credit: Creative Commons]

[Image credit: PHRA]

There are so many benefits of living here at Park Hill. Aside from the honour of calling a Grade II* Listed building ‘home’, we are also lucky enough to be able to create a real sense of community in our ‘streets in the sky’.

In a building so unique, it’s not unusual to feel curious about who lives next-door, above, below, or to the side of us. What makes the experience of Park Hill special, is the sense that many of us want to build respectful friendships with our neighbours - in the same way the original residents will have done, all those decades ago.

Living in such close proximity to one another calls for a certain level of ‘neighbourliness’. Small acts of kindness can have a big impact on our enjoyment of the place. An awareness of the buildings architectural quirks can have dramatic impact - there are bedrooms under the walkways, which is something not all new residents might be aware of. Skateboarding, running, cycling, scooting and roller-skating are discouraged due to the severity of the noise nuisance it creates for those living beneath. Some people work night shifts and sleep during the day. Others are dozing off at 11pm, only to be rudely awoken by a blissfully unaware neighbour, innocently running or stomping along the walkway above. Consideration for others is crucial when we share communal spaces. Not everyone runs their lives to the same timeframes as us.

Recycling and rubbish have been a recent issue, especially in Phase 2. Household waste in bin liners left on the walkways directly outside apartments creates an invite for pests (not to mention the smell!). Cardboard should be broken down, squashed or cut up to ensure it fits in the bins - boxes should not just be left leaning next to the bins. We all need to take responsibility for our own waste - assuming someone else will ‘deal’ with isn’t how things work here at Park Hill. There will soon be a bin chute at Phase 2 (for general household rubbish), but until then, we should aim to keep Park Hill looking as clean and tidy as possible. This shows that we are all equally proud (and pleased) to live in an iconic piece of U.K. history.

Whether Park Hill is your temporary or forever home, the sentiment remains the same. By looking out for (and looking after) one another, we can safeguard the growing community spirit of our brutalist Sheffield paradise.

L. C.

[Image credit: Sheffield Urban CycloCross]

There is still plenty of time to register your interest for the Park Hill UpRise Urban Hill Climb, as it has now been rescheduled for Saturday 10th September to allow more time for entries. The event is organised by Sheffield Urban CycloCross and the format for this race is a hill climb from a standing start on the two cobbled climbs below South Street, with prizes for the fastest riders.

Cyclists of all abilities are encouraged to take part so you are welcome to have a go whether you are experienced or just starting out. Visit the Rider HQ website to submit your entry (note that there is a small entry fee which goes towards the running costs of the event).

If you don’t want to compete, organisers are also on the lookout for marshals to support the event, so please email sheffieldurbancx@gmail.com if interested.

Joe D.

[Image credit: Heritage Open Days]

Earlier this year we were approached to arrange some tours of Park Hill for this year's Heritage Open Days (9-18 September). Heritage Open Days are an annual celebration of England's architecture and culture that allows visitors free access to historical landmarks that are not usually open to the public. Park Hill has previously participated so we are keen to support these events once again, after a break of several years. You can see some promotional material from the 1990’s in the images below.

[Image credit: PHRA]

A working group convened and has organised a series of small group tours that will take visitors around the estate and along the Streets in the Sky to share the history and architecture of Park Hill. Tours will be 90 minutes in duration and be no more than 15 people in size. Tour dates and times are:

Saturday 10th September

11:00

14:00

16:30

Tuesday 13th September

18:00

Thursday 15th September

18:00

Saturday 17th September

11:00

14:00

16:30

The local Sheffield Heritage Open Days brochure will be published on the 20th August and our tours will open for booking the same day. The tours are also included in the national Heritage Open Days online event listings.

We are also keen to share Park Hill in a way that appeals to children/families, therefore we also hope to arrange a trail/treasure hunt type activity during the Heritage Open Days period. Keep an eye out for more information about this over the next couple of months.

As resident-organised tours, the impact on residents has been at the forefront in planning these events. We have put measures in place to mitigate any risks and these are listed below. The tours will also be covered by public liability insurance.

Security

⁃ Each tour will be led by 2 guides. The assistant guide will follow to the rear of the tour group to ensure no visitors become separated.

⁃ Head counts will be taken when entering and leaving the building.

⁃ Tours are pre-booked only, no walk ups.

Noise

⁃ Minimal time will be spent in areas adjacent to flats.

⁃ No audio amplification will be used by the tour guide.

⁃ We will stress to visitors that it is a residential estate so noise must be kept to a minimum.

Privacy

⁃ No sensitive areas of the estate will be accessed.

⁃ Visitors will be asked to be respectful about photographing flat entrance door windows

Disruption

⁃ If a resident requires the lift at the same time, they will be given priority

⁃ Tours will not pause in locations where residents are socially congregating

⁃ Tours will not pause on the streets other than at the more open circulation spaces

⁃ Tours will walk single file along the streets to prevent blocking

⁃ Visitors are encouraged to travel by foot, bicycle or public transport to avoid adding to car parking pressures.

We hope we have your support and encourage you to look at what else is on offer in Sheffield as part of the Heritage Open Days. As residents, you are welcome to get in touch with any questions at tours@parkhill.estate.

Jonathan K.

[Image credit: PHRA]

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the name of the street on which you live or work? When the Park Hill flats were originally built 60 years ago, the names of the terraced streets they replaced were adopted for the open access decks (Streets in the Sky), but as a ‘Row’ rather ‘Street’. During the recent redevelopment, these names have been kept (and a new one added) although often refered to without ‘Row’ or ‘Street’.

Ordnance Survey. Six-inch to the mile. Yorkshire Sheet CCXCIV. 1924

[Image credit: Ordnance Survey]

Gilbert is named after Gilbert Talbot (1552 - 1616) who was the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury. A colourful character, he once challenged his brother to a duel over a property dispute and there were even rumours of involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. He was also known for his extravagance, particularly in matters of hospitality. Following his death, his local legacy was the founding of Shrewsbury Hospital, now located just south of Park Hill. He is buried in the Shrewsbury family chapel at Sheffield Cathedral - one of only 2 members whose coffins remain after the others mysteriously disappeared!

Gilbert Talbot, 1596

The only street without a connection to the aristocracy, Hague is said to be named after William Hague who was a local mason, beerhouse owner and shopkeeper. He was the landlord of the Masons Arms pub at 14 South Street (later 85 South Street) in the

mid-19th century.

The original streets of Park Hill were built on the estate of the Duke of Norfolk, land which was acquired through the marriage of Gilbert Talbots daughter Alethea into the family. Long Henry is believed to be named after an ancestor the Duke of Norfolk, although it is unclear which one. Originally called Henry Street, it was given its prefix to differentiate itself from another (presumably shorter) street of the same name elsewhere in Sheffield.

Alethea Talbot, 1620

The naming of both Norwich and Lord Mews are also derived from the connections to the Duke of Norfolk. The former is the East Anglian city with which family had close connections, while the latter reflects their title of Lord of the Manor.

The source of the origins are from Street Names of Sheffield (2001) by Peter Harvey. A copy can be found in the Sheffield Local Studies Library if you wish to find out more about the local street names, although you can probably now guess the origin of Talbot and Duke Street!

One street name not featured in the book is Pat Midgley Lane which was named only last year and we reported on in our Summer 2021 newsletter.

Jonathan K. 

[Image credit: PHRA]

The most recent meeting of the Park Hill Book Club was the first one that has taken place face-to-face for a few years! Held at the Trades and Labour Club on Duke Street (S2 5QQ), this month's book was Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

Future meetings will be held at the same venue on the first Monday of every month. You can find the schedule and the books to be read on the Park Hill Directory of Events. 

Victoria W.

[Image credit: PHRA]

Park Hill was recently used as the location for an upcoming television series! Some of you may have spotted the crew on the roof, as well as more vehicles around the estate. The team were very appreciative of how accommodating residents were during this time, and the location fee negotiated as part of this work will be given to PHRA so that it can be used to support community events.

There are more exciting scenes planned to take place over the coming weeks, so we thank you for your support and look forward to sharing more details in the future!

Victoria W. 

[Image credit: PHRA]

Our monthly litter picks have continued throughout Spring into Summer, bringing plenty of new faces and keeping on top of the littering around Park Hill. If you have not attended yet and are interested in keeping our local environment tidy and meeting some of your neighbours, please do try to get along to one of our sessions.

Going forward, after each litter pick, PHRA will now be funding refreshments at South Street Kitchen to allow volunteers to continue to catch up with each other. A nice way to end each session and it also supports a local Park Hill business.

Last year 10 bag hoops were purchased to make litter picking easier.  However, at last count, only 7 remain in the bicycle store. While we encourage you to make use of the equipment, we do request that you return them when not being used so they are available for our monthly events - half of the attendees at the June session had to do without one. We don’t want to have to lock them away to prevent more going missing, so if you do have them at home, please can you return them. 

Finally, many thanks to those who have offered to help lead these events in response to the request in the previous newsletter. This will help the litter picks be resilient and sustainable into the future.

Jonathan K.

[Image credit: PHRA]

Did you know there is a community garden hidden away at Park Hill? Between the railway and South Street, opposite flanks B and C, there was a small patch of land which previously was used principally by heroin addicts and was littered with dangerous needles. There are many little plots of land like this around our city, and back in 2017 the council were pleased to engage with us residents to improve this one. By March 2018, Park Hill Residents’ Association (PHRA) entered into a stewardship agreement with Sheffield City Council to maintain the patch of land.  

Parks and Countryside coordinated all the main stakeholders and there was a big effort to clear all the little hidden dens around this area - a great deal of cutting back to make the area more difficult to use for drug use purposes.

[Image credit: PHRA]

As it stands now the little woodland path that we created has existed for over 3 years and is wellused. The raised bed was created with council permission, and was planted initially by the Grace Owen Nursery kids in a joint project. There are some sweet chestnut trees at the back, threatened now by encroaching brambles, and a couple of fruit trees to the right. Otherwise the land has been left alone in order to encourage wildlife. We've had a deer there once, and residents have put up bird boxes. So pleased and proud that we have not seen any sharps there literally none since we created the path!

More recently, South Street Kitchen have been trialling their own growing area in the garden following the ‘no dig’ approach inspired by the horticulturalist Charles Dowding. So if you pay them a visit, you may get a chance to experience this most-locally grown produce!  

Before COVID there was a discussion on how to increase resident participation but obviously this had to be put on hold. I think now is the right time - is anyone is interested in forming a working group within PHRA, perhaps re-establishing the relationship with Parks and Countryside and thinking how this site might move on? If so, it would be great to hear from you at hello@parkhillpeople.org.

Dave. W.

[Image credit: PHRA]

Phase 2 move ins are well under way and with that has come the start of the Park Hill Women’s Safety WhatsApp Group!

Started by two Phase 2 residents, the group is proving to be amazingly successful, it has grown to 40 members at the time of writing (June 2022) and keeps growing daily. Everyone has banded together and it has made a real difference to how safe women, especially women living alone, feel at Park Hill… we couldn’t have hoped for any more!

The group has also become a great way to meet others at Park Hill, with a meet up roughly every month to meet each other and not only discuss safety, but more so to become friends and meet the community.

To join, download WhatsApp to your phone, use your phone camera scan the QR code above and join the chat, then within 24 hours please verify your residency at Park Hill by taking a photo of yourself in front of the concrete in your flat and send this either into the chat or to one of the chat Admins. This is to prove you are who you say you are and that you live at Park Hill rather than being a visitor, which keeps all group members safer. Women living in all phases of Park Hill are welcome!

Sophie W. 

[Image credit: NHS UK]

PHRA was recently contacted by The Campaign Company (TCC) - an independent research organisation – who are working on behalf of the NHS South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System. They would like to speak to residents views about their views on the support that is available when urgent health care is needed.

If you'd like to take part, you can book your appointment for either a telephone or online interview here. Your feedback will be totally anonymous and to say thank you for your time you’ll receive a £25 shopping voucher. 

Victoria W.